Assessment of occupational related stress among nurses in two selected hospitals in a city southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed frequency of stressful event among nurses and how stressful they perceived those events to be. This descriptive design study was carried out among nurses in two selected hospitals. In all 183 nurses recruited using simple random sampling participated in the study. Ethical clearance was obtained from appropriate IRB. The instrument used for data collection was the Nursing Stress Scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Most frequently stressful aspect of nurses work include; inadequate staff to cover ward work load (2.55); performing procedures that patients experience as painful (2.30); and lack of drugs and equipment required for nursing care (2.30). On the overall, workload was the most frequently stressful aspect of nurses’ work followed by death and dying. Three most stressful aspect of nurses’ work was observed to be, not having enough staff to adequately cover the load of the ward (3.72); lack of drugs and equipment required for nursing care (3.45); and death of patient with whom you develop a close relationship (3.43). No significance difference was observed in the level of stress experienced by nurses in the two hospital (99.35 vs 93.27; t = 1.492, p = 0.137). Also, in the level of stress experience by the junior and the senior nurses (99.76 vs 95.41; t = 1.127; p = 0.261). In conclusion, nurses are susceptible to occupational stress because of intense daily activity. Nurses are not ever thought as needing help but only as the care givers.