The Relationship between Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies among Nurses in the Burn Care Unit at the Main Alexandria University Hospital

Abstract

Nurses caring for burn injured patient had high stress levels in the workload and time pressure. The main stressful factors among burn injured patient care are high patients` death, emergency situations, and low supportive relationships. Prolonged stress without effective coping strategies may negatively contribute to the nurses’ quality of life and quality of care delivered. Aim of the study: Assess perceived stress and coping strategies among nurses caring for burn injured patient and to investigate the relationship between perceived stress and coping strategies among those nurses. Design: A descriptive correlational design was utilized for this study. Setting: The study was conducted in burn unit at Main Alexandria University hospital. Subjects: All nurses are working in burn care unit (45 nurse) were included in the study. Tools: Socio-demographic and work characteristics interview schedule, Perceived Stress and Brief Cope Scale. Results: Results of the study revealed that, more than half of the studied nurses had moderate level of perceived stress and rest of them having high level. The majority of the studied nurses had moderate level of problem-focused, emotion focused and dysfunctional coping strategies. A positive statistical significant relationship between nurses' perceived stress and behavioral disengagement & self blame coping strategies and a negative statistical significant relationship between perceived stress and active coping & planning, seeking emotional support and positive reframing coping strategies were found. Conclusion & recommendations: Perceived stress among studied nurses negatively related to problem- focused & emotion- focused coping strategies and positively related to dysfunctional coping strategies. Based on the findings, it is recommended to implement programs to tackle nurses’ stress level and improve their coping skills.