The nurse is taking a spiritual history from a patient with a terminal illness. Using the FICA tool, which question(s), if asked by the nurse, would be appropriate?

A. Shortage of personnel
A shortage of personnel is a significant cause of workplace stress for nurses. It often leads to increased workloads, longer hours, and decreased time for patient care, contributing to stress and burnout.

B. Communicating with colleagues
While communication can be challenging, it is not typically a primary cause of workplace stress. Effective communication is crucial but is more of a skill rather than a direct cause of stress.

C. Reduced workload
A reduced workload would generally not cause stress; instead, it might reduce stress. It could be seen as an opportunity for rest and recovery.

D. Increased acuity of patients
Increased patient acuity is a known cause of stress for nurses. It requires more intensive care, which can lead to higher stress levels due to increased demands and responsibilities.

E. Increase in available resources
An increase in available resources generally helps alleviate stress rather than causing it. More resources can support better patient care and reduce stress.

A. While knowing the duration of hypertension is useful, it doesn’t directly inform the development of a teaching plan.

B. Asking what the patient knows about hypertension helps the nurse assess the patient’s current knowledge level, which is essential for creating an effective teaching plan.

C. Knowing if the patient is taking medications is important, but it is a more specific detail rather than a foundational assessment for teaching.

D. Understanding why salt is bad is specific information but does not assess the patient’s overall knowledge of hypertension.