PYCHOLOGY FOR NURSES

1. S T R E S S , C O N F L I C T, F R U S T R AT I O N
P.THIRUNAGLINGA PANDIYAN
M.Sc.,(N).,M.A., D.Pharm.,
School of Nursing
Madurai Medical College
Madurai

2. STRESS
• Stress is a very common problem being faced today.
• Every individual will experience stress in one or the
other time.
• Stress is a biological and psychological response
• Stress is an internal state which can be caused by
physical demands of body

3. DEFINITION
• Stress is defined as a mental, physical or
emotional strain on the body.
• Generally stress occurs in response to a stressor
• Stressors may be internally or externally
• Eustress is the term used to describe positive stress.
• Distress is the term used to indicate negative stress.

4. SOURCES OF STRESS
• Environmental Stressors - Noise, Pollution, Traffic,
Crowding and Weather
• Physiological Stressors - Illness, Injuries, Hormonal
Fluctuations
• Thought - Negative Self Talk
• Individual Cause - Low Self Esteem, Fear of loss of control
• Social Stressors - Financial Problems, Work Demands,
Social Events

5. TYPES OF STRESS
1. Acute Stress
• Acute stress is the most common form of stress.
• It comes from demands and pressures of the recent
2. Episodic Stress
• Acute stress that is suffered too frequently in episode then it is called
episodic stress.
3.Chronic Stress
• The individual having stress for long duration like one year it is called
as chronic stress

6. SYMPTOMS OF STRESS
• Physical Symptoms - Muscle tension, cold and other
illness, hypertension, tachycardia indigestion, ulcers,
insomnia, headache.
• Cognitive Symptoms - Forgetfulness, lack of
concentration, self criticism
• Emotional symptoms - Irritability, Depression, Anger,
Fear of Anxiety.

7. HANS SELYE STAGES OF STRESS
There are Three Main Stages associated with the
General Adaptation Syndrome (HANS SELYE )
• The Alarm Reaction
• The Stages of Resistance
• The Stages of Exhaustion

8. STAGES OF STRESS
1. Alarm Reaction
• It is an emergency response of the body. In this stage
prompt responses of the body, many of them
mediated by the sympathetic nervous system, prepare
us to cope with the stressor here and now.
(FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE).

9. STAGES OF STRESS
2. Stage of Resistance
• If the stressor continues to be present, the stage of
resistance begins, wherein the body resists the effects
of the continuous stressor. During this stage certain
hormonal responses of the body are an important line
of defence in resisting the effects of stressors (For
example, release of ACTH).

10. STAGES OF STRESS
3. Stage of Exhaustion
• In this stage, the body’s capacity to respond to both
continuous and new stressors has been seriously
compromised. The person will no longer be able to
face stressor and he will finally accept to it.

11. STRESS MANAGEMENT

12. CONFLICT
DEFINITION
• The word conflict has been derived from a Latin word
‘Conflicts’ which means ‘strike two things at the same
time’. Conflict is an opposition between different
impulses
• Conflict may be defined as a friction between two
desires, motives, needs.

13. TYPES OF CONFLICTS
a. Intrapersonal Conflicts
•These are the conflicts caused within the
individual.
•These conflicts arise as a result of two or
more motives or goals to be achieved at a
time. Hence, these are called Goal
conflicts.

14. TYPES OF CONFLICTS
1. Approach- Approach Conflict
• In this type of conflict individual will have two desires with
positive goals which are equally powerful.
• For example,
• A person has two attractive job offers.
• Choosing two cinemas

15. TYPES OF CONFLICTS
2. Avoidance- Avoidance Conflict
• This conflict involves two goals with negative valence.
• At times the individual is forced to choose one among two
negative goals.
• In such conflicts, both are unwanted goals, but cannot avoid
also.
• For example, don’t want to hard work and don’t want the fail
in exam

16. TYPES OF CONFLICTS
3 . Approach- Avoidance Conflict
• This is also a most complex conflict and very difficult to
resolve.
• Because in this type of conflict a person is both attracted and
unwanted by the same goal object.
• Here the goal object will have both positive and negative
valences.
eg : Ice cream is delicious and tasty but it is also cause
obesity

17. TYPES OF CONFLICTS
4. Multiple- Approach - Avoidance Conflict
• Some of the situations in life come across will involve both
positive and negative valences of multiple nature.
• Suppose a woman is engaged to be married. The marriage to
her has positive valences like-providing security to life and
marrying a person whom she loves very much.
• On the other hand, if the marriage is repellent to her because
she has to quit her attractive job and salary

18. RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS
• The conflicts may arise from frustrations, competing
roles or goals having positive or negative valences.
• Some conflicts are of great danger to mental health of
the individual.
• Hence, it is necessary to resolve them as quickly as
possible.

19. RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS
• Conflicts resolution depends upon the type of conflict.
• The double approach conflict may be easily resolved by
satisfying first one goal which is more important than the
other.
• for example , a student attending the class first, then going for
food even if hungry.
• Alternatively, this conflict is resolved by giving up one of the
goals.
• Obviously, approach-approach conflict does not generate

20. RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS
• In approach-avoidance conflict, since there is only one goal
object, it is very difficult to decide.
• Here, compromise with the situation is the only alternative
solution to overcome stress resulting from conflict.
• Finally, in multiple approach-avoidance conflict the individual
has to take a decision depending upon the sum total of
positive or negative valences resulting in selection of goals.

21. FRUSTRATION
• The word frustration has been derived from a Latin
word ‘Frusta’ means ‘obstruct’.
• The term frustration refers to the blocking of
behavior directed towards the goal.

22. SOURCES OF FRUSTRATION
1. Environmental Forces
• Environmental obstacles can frustrate the satisfaction
of motives by making it difficult or impossible for a
person to attain a goal. An obstacle may be physical-
such as untimely rain, disruption in electric supply,
auto strike, famine, earthquake, war, floods, etc.

23. SOURCES OF FRUSTRATION
2. Personal Frustration
• Unattainable goals or too high goals which are beyond the
ability level of a person can be important sources of
frustration. These are learned goals. For instance, a student
with average level of intelligence aspires to score 90% of
marks in the examination will definitely face frustration.

24. SOURCES OF FRUSTRATION
3. Conflict Produced Frustration
• A major source of frustration is found in motivational
conflict, in which the expression of one motive
interferes with the expression of other motives.
• A student wants higher education, but too much
expenditure comes in between. In this way he come
across many frustrations due to conflict

25. SOURCES OF FRUSTRATION
4. Motivational conflict
• Motivation is one kind of power which makes a person
delightful for work. Furthermore, Positive motivation
can makes a man dynamical and encourages for work
• On the other hand, Motivation decreases mental
pressure of a person.

26. REACTIONS TO FRUSTRATIONS
Simple Reactions
• Increasing effort and Trials - During frustrations the
individual gives more effort to achieve it
• Compromise - Repeated failure in one activity may
cause change the aim with compromise
• Surrender – The individual accept the failure

27. REACTIONS TO FRUSTRATIONS
Violent Reactions
External aggression – The aggression may be
directed towards the person or things. Example the
employee who denied the promotion may quarrel with
supervisors
Internal aggression – The aggression may be directed
towards the self and cause angry, tension

28. OVERCOMING FRUSTRATION AND
CONFLICT BY THE NURSE
• Identify the source of frustration and conflict and try to remove it
• Decide the important things carefully
• Check everything carefully before do the procedure
• Always think as positive
• Relax with works
• Make good communication with others
• Proper time management
• Seek reliable help from others
• Avoid doing wrong

29. THANK YOU