Selye's Theory Of Psychological Stress

The concept of stress has been researched for many years. Stress research has can be traced to two theorists which have different approaches to the field of stress research. Hans Selye based his theory of systemic stress on physiology and psychobiology. Richard S. Lazarus bases his theory of psychological stress on cognitive psychology. Lazarus defines psychological stress as a relationship with the environment that the person appraises as significant for his or her well being and in which the demands tax or exceed available coping resources (Lazarus and Folkman, 1984). Selye defines this stress as a state manifested by a syndrome which consists of all the nonspecifically induced changes in a biologic system (Selye, 1976).

Selye observed that
Every day, registered nurses give a great deal of themselves emotionally in the process of providing care to their patients. The emotional cost of giving is inevitably borne by the giver who may be unprepared to combat the changes that occur when burnout reaches the stage of compassion fatigue or stress. The difference between burnout and compassion fatigue is that burnout produces emotional withdrawal and diminished empathy, whereas those with compassion fatigue try to continue to give of themselves and feel as though they have failed at their profession (Fisher, 2002). Physical, emotional and spiritual exhaustion develops. Compassion fatigue and stress can be distinguished from burnout in that caregiver symptoms often parallel those of the patient population served. Many nurses suffer from mild symptoms of stress such as headaches, insomnia, muscle strain, and anxiety. Nurses lead complicated lives. As well as being workers, they are parents, partners, siblings and members of larger communities. Stresses nurses face that are associated with our profession are extended work hours, giving intense emotional support in the face of patients ' suffering, having little power and control in physician-controlled work environments, and dealing daily with pain, loss, and traumatic illness events (Fisher, 2002). Nurses are now also faced with added stress due to nursing
The nurse is nonchalant in her responses to her patients and lacks empathy. She feels she lacks personal accomplishment. Chronic stressors on the job, physical and mental exhaustion, and a sense of little accomplishment add up to burnout. Employees with burnout feel tired all the time, often show symptoms of depression, and frequently feel trapped in the job and cynical about it (Fisher, 2002). Personal characteristics can contribute to burnout are if one takes their work more seriously than necessary or are in jobs requiring involvement with others who do not obtain satisfaction from this involvement. Examples are jobs in which workers must make decisions that affect others, must keep others busy and happy and, most notably, are responsible for others ' lives are particularly