Abstract
Nurses experience psychosocial work stress that may negatively affect physical and mental health over time. In this cross-sectional study we investigated prevalence of job stress and oxidative stress in nurses, and determined if significant relationships exist between higher job stress scores and demographic factors and working conditions. Emergency department nurses (n = 42) were recruited from a University Hospital following Institutional Review Board approval. Job stress indicators, effort–reward ratio and overcommitment were evaluated from survey questionnaires using the effort–reward imbalance model, and associations with age, sex, body mass index, and working conditions were measured by logistic regression analysis. Oxidative stress biomarkers, 8-isoprostane, malondialdehyde, and antioxidant levels were measured from urine specimens. Job stress was prevalent with effort–reward ratio > 1 in 93% and overcommitment > 50 in 83% of the study participants. Age, body mass index, years of experience, weekend work, work hours per week, and shift work showed strong associations with effort–reward ratio and overcommitment scores. Malondialdehyde was higher in participants with high overcommitment. We report that psychosocial job stress is prevalent among nurses, as revealed by the high effort–reward and overcommitment scores. Job stress may be reduced through implementation of appropriate stress reduction interventions.
Highlights
Nurses in the emergency departments (ED) work in a highly stressful environment, which includes but is not limited to long work hours, handling life threatening diseases, interacting with accident and trauma victims, dealing with anxious patient families, and exacting superiors
Nurses work at the forefront of the healthcare industry and perform a highly demanding job, predisposing them to a great deal of psychosocial job stress compared to many other professions
Our study showed high ER ratio (ERR) was associated with weekend work, whereas working rotating shift, weekend work, and working over 40 h/week were associated with high overcommitment
Summary
Nurses in the emergency departments (ED) work in a highly stressful environment, which includes but is not limited to long work hours, handling life threatening diseases, interacting with accident and trauma victims, dealing with anxious patient families, and exacting superiors. Such intense job demands often lead to declines in physical and mental health in medical personnel [1,2]. Over the past decade, nursing has consistently ranked at the highest level regarding occupational stress among all healthcare professions [7].
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.