Workload stress and performance of nurses in government hospitals in Kenya

Abstract

This paper looks at workload stress to establish how it influences nurses‘ levels of performance, morale and clinical outcomes in government hospitals in Nairobi Kenya. The study design utilized for this research is descriptive survey and correlation design. The key objective of the study is to investigate the relationship between work load stress and performance among public hospital workers in Kenya. A sample of 845 nurses was drawn from all the six levels of government hospitals in Nairobi County using Taro Yamanes sample size selection formula. Data collected was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Correlation analysis was employed to explore the direction and magnitude of relationship between various constructs of work load stress and employee performance. The research findings show that work load stress influences performance of nurses. Majority of respondents (79.8%) indicated that work load stress factors influence their performance ―to a great extent‖ (11.2%) indicated ―to a small extent‖. These responses were confirmed through inferential statistical analyses as discussed in the paper. Based on the findings the study recommends that adequate and modern equipment should be provided to nurses to aid them in their work and more nurses should be employed to help reduce workload stress. This is expected to lead to the boasting of the morale of nurses in government hospitals perhaps leading to fewer strikes.