Poster Presentation
Water's Edge Ballroom (Hilton Waikoloa Village)
Thursday, July 14, 2005
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Water's Edge Ballroom (Hilton Waikoloa Village)
Thursday, July 14, 2005
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
The Influence of Psychosocial Factors With the Incidence and Prevalence of Work-Related Injury and Illness in Registered Nurses
Gloria Duke, PhD, RN, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA, Anne DeWitt, MSN, RN, The University of Texas Health Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA, Helen Miner, PhD, RN, Area Health Education Center, Tyler, TX, USA, Paul Rountree, MD, Occupational Health, The University of Texas Health Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA, and William Sorensen, PhD, Health and Kinesiology, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA.
| Learning Objective #1: Identify psychosocial factors that may contribute to work-related injury/illness in Registered Nurses |
| Learning Objective #2: Describe relationships between demographic factors and selected psychosocial factors that contribute to work-related injury/illness in Registered Nurses |
TThe critical nursing shortage that is being experienced within the United States is expected to intensify as current nurses in the workforce age and as the need for health care grows. In addition to an aging RN workforce, dissatisfaction with nursing has been cited as a reason for leaving the profession. Psychosocial and workplace environmental stress factors have been reported to influence illness and injury in RNs. These factors included requirements for long hours, heavy lifting, low staffing levels, a perceived lack of support from peers and management, and concerns about injustice and unfair practices. Musculoskeletal injuries, particularly from lifting activities, are common problems for health care workers. Data suggests that overexertion injuries to health care workers are double the rates occurring in general industry. The purpose of this descriptive, correlational study is to examine the influence of psychosocial factors and demographic data with the incidence and prevalence of work-related injury and illness in Registered Nurses who work in acute care, long term care, and community (home health) settings. The sample size will be approximately 350 RNs working at least 20 hours per week. The Job Content Questionnaire is being used to measure psychosocial factors of the work environment, and the Questionnaire on the Experience and Assessment of Work is being used to measure role ambiguity, interpersonal work-related conflicts, emotional demands, and job insecurity. Data will be entered into SPSS, Version 11.0 and descriptive, correlational statistics used. If psychosocial factors are demonstrated to directly influence job satisfaction and/or work-related injury and illness, then predictive level studies may be directed toward minimizing/eliminating those factors that contribute to negative nurse retention. A healthier work environment may contribute to nursing recruitment and retention, positively impacting the acute and projected nursing shortage, and consequently assuring better care for health care consumers of the future.