Occupational stress and its relationship with spiritual coping among emergency department nurses and emergency medical services staff

Abstract

IntroductionEmergency Department (ED) nurses and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Staff are faced with several stressors daily, such as the COVID 19 pandemic situation, which affects the health and the quality of services to patients. Spiritual coping with stress is an attempt to overcome the stress on the basis of what is transcendent. The use of spiritual coping strategies helps a person to overcome tensions caused by the work environment. ObjectiveThe current study aimed to investigate occupational stress and its relationship with spiritual coping among ED nurses and EMS staff. Materials and methodsThis study was descriptive-correlational research. Using convenience sampling methods, 516 ED nurses and EMS staff were enrolled in the study. The study instruments included demographic information, HSE Occupational Stress, and spiritual coping questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSSv.22 software and the descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation test, t-test, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression. ResultsThe highest and lowest levels of occupational stress were the dimensions of “demand” (2.96 ± 0.65) and “role” (3.89 ± 0.81) respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that positive spiritual coping, negative spiritual coping, workplace, service location, type of employment, and work position were important factors affecting the occupational stress of ED nurses and EMS staff, which accounted for 0.34% of the variance. ConclusionThe findings showed the need to improve the work environment for ED nurses and EMS staff, including changes in physical working conditions, salaries, and better employment conditions. Training programs are recommended to reduce stress through the use of positive spiritual coping strategies.