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Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to know the occupational stress in nursing staff at a general hospital.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to know the occupational stress in nursing staff by investigating the relationship between the stress characteristics and background factors.
To obtain basic data to improve the work environment, this study analyzes occupational stress in nursing staff at a general hospital by investigating the relationship between the stress characteristics and background factors (e.g., age, sex, and work situation—years working in nursing, years in current post).
Methods
A questionnaire regarding background data and the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire were administered to the nursing staff of A General Hospital. The Brief Job Stress Questionnaire results were calculated using standardized scores, and compared with the raw-score conversion table of national averages. Approval was obtained from the ethics committee at A University before beginning the study.
Results
Valid responses were obtained from 234 subjects (response rate 47.5%), of which there were 22 men (9.2%) and 212 women (90.8%). The mean age was 31 years (SD = 7.9). Among the respondents, 66 (28.2%) had worked in nursing for 2 years or less, 206 (87.9%) had worked for 5 years or less in their current post, and 94% reported experiencing workplace stress.
1. The following items were significantly higher than average: stress due to quality of work, quantity of work, physical burdens, and personal relationships; as well as irritability, fatigue, anxiety, and depression.
2. Staff who had worked in nursing for 3 years or less or 20 years or more reported high levels of stress due to personal relationships, and staff in their 20s reported significantly high levels of depression.
Discussion
The nursing staff in this study reported significant stress because of workload, physical burdens, and personal relationships, and experienced high levels of irritability, fatigue, and anxiety/depression. This could lead to problems such as turnover and burnout. Therefore, while the hospital as an organization must consider how to improve the situation, the nursing staff must themselves participate in stress management.
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