Grey Gorilla Syndrome

Assessment and decision-making skills are considered inherent to nursing, but what the underlying cognitive process involves or how it is developed and used has received much less attention. The process by which nurses link together basic knowledge, past experiences, and 'gut feelings' as a basis for decisions is called the 'Nursing Gestalt'. New nurses learn to make assessments, diagnoses, and sound judgements about care from a more experienced nurse who supports and teaches the neophyte. These researchers have called this mentoring relationship the Grey Gorilla Syndrome, in reference to the silverback primate who serves as a leader-teacher-protector-role model for his troupe.

Data were collected from interactions and in-depth interviews with 28 subjects from all levels of basic nursing who worked in medical intensive care units. The investigation studied the practice of these nurses in the early detection of cardiogenic shock. Nurses who had the support and guidance of Grey Gorillas expressed feelings of greater self-actualization, more job satisfaction, better peer relationships, and less stress. An emotional involvement and intense relationship developed between the Grey Gorilla and the neophyte. Units having a Grey Gorilla were observed to be quieter and more efficiently organized.

Barriers to this mentor-neophyte relationship are timing and accessibility since potential Grey Gorillas often have conflicting demands or work shifts. Organizational and managerial duties take up the time of head nurses and coordinators, and neophytes find themselves working evenings or nights with other equally inexperienced nurses. Some nurses with the necessary experience and expertise to assume a mentoring role are unapproachable or are reluctant to share their knowledge. Neophytes were not found to be reluctant or too competitive to enter into the relationship, and expressed regret only during the weaning phase.

The researchers suggest that problems of patient care, burnout, and turnover could be reduced by encouraging the use and development of Grey Gorillas, proving positive feedback, and recognizing their contribution.

Source: Pyles, Stern: Discovery of nursing gestalt in critical care nursing: The importance of the Grey Gorilla Syndrome in Journal of Nursing Scholarship - 1983