Question

You are near the end of a​ 24-hour shift with your permanent partner. You have noticed that over the past two or three​ shifts, he has been very​ irritable, indecisive, and condescending to your patients. These findings are consistent​ with:

A. inadvertent operation syndrome.
B. stress reaction.
C. cognitive dissonance.
D. social conversion.

Answer 1

The behaviors of irritability, indecisiveness, and condescension in a healthcare professional nearing the end of a long shift are symptomatic of a stress reaction and potentially indicative of job burnout.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario described involves a partner who has become irritable, indecisive, and condescending to patients during long shifts. These behaviors could be symptomatic of a stress reaction. This is in line with the concept of job burnout, a health phenomenon that includes emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and diminished personal accomplishment, especially prevalent among those in human service jobs. Chronic stress can also lead to the stage of resistance and subsequently the stage of exhaustion if the stressor is prolonged, as described in Selye's general adaptation syndrome.