Stress In Nurses Research Articles

Revisiting Alcohol Consumption Among Nurses After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause nurses stress and trauma, with alcohol potentially being used to manage this stress. Prior studies of nurses' alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic have shown increases in alcohol consumption to manage stress associated with the pandemic. The aim of this paper is to explore perceptions of alcohol consumption and stress among nurses, particularly since the declared end of the COVID-19 pandemic. We used semi-structured interviews with Australian nurses (n = 55), using a qualitative-descriptive study design, conducted between October 2023 and January 2024. Data were analysed using structural coding and reported in accordance with CORE-Q guidelines. Four key themes emerged from the data: (1) Alcohol consumption in response to ongoing role stress, (2) Alcohol consumption in response to incidents, (3) The lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and (4) Do nurses feel comfortable seeking help for alcohol use? High-risk alcohol consumption has persisted beyond the end of the COVID-19 pandemic to manage the stress associated with clinical environments. Alcohol was also used in response to incidents, and the ongoing trauma and impact of the pandemic was described as a significant source of stress and anxiety. Not all nurses in our study felt comfortable seeking help for alcohol use, with participants describing concern for their nursing registration if they self-reported their alcohol consumption. Participants reported stronger links between stressful working environments and increased alcohol consumption. Nurses in our study do not feel safe seeking help or self-reporting alcohol consumption for fear of the regulatory body instituting sanctions that lead to loss or suspension of their registration. These factors require urgent attention to ensure workforce wellbeing and sustainability.

Generalized anxiety disorder and job performance can predict job stress among nurses: A latent profile analysis.

Nursing is a stressful profession that can impact the physical and mental health of nurses as well as the safety of patients. Furthermore, various factors may affect the job stress of nurses. However, recent studies mainly focused on the overall level of job stress and its related factors, ignoring the population heterogeneity of nurses' job stress. A total of 440 nurses participated in the questionnaire survey between March 2023 and April 2023. Data were collected using the Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire, the Nursing Job Stressor Inventory, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale, and the Nurse Job Performance Scale. A latent profile analysis was used to identify the latent profiles of job stress. Kruskal-Wallis H test and ordinal logistic regression were used to explore the predictors of different profiles. The job stress of nurses could be classified into four profiles: relatively low job stress, relatively high job stress, high job stress, and the highest job stress. Generalized anxiety disorder, job performance, health status, and dislike of nursing as a career were predictors of different profiles. The majority of nurses were classified into profile 2, and their job stress was relatively high. Lowering anxiety levels, enhancing job performance, improving nurses' health status, and changing professional attitudes toward nursing may be effective ways to reduce nurses' job stress.

Visibility, Physical Work Environment, and Stress in ICU Nurses

OBJECTIVE Relationships among coworker and patient visibility, reactions to physical work environment, and work stress in ICU nurses are explored. BACKGROUND Millions of dollars are invested annually in the building or remodeling of ICUs, yet there is a gap in understanding relationships between the physical layout of nursing units and work stress. METHODS Using a cross-sectional, correlational, exploratory, predictive design, relationships among variables were studied in a diverse sample of ICU nurses. RESULTS Visibility had a direct effect on work stress (P < 0.01). The ViPES (Visibility, Physical Environment and Stress) model can help explain relationships among study variables. The findings from this study support the notion that high visibility is a job resource and low visibility is a job demand. CONCLUSIONS Design features supporting a sense of connection may be especially important to less experienced ICU nurses. Elements of the built environment that allow nurses to see not only patients, but also their coworkers, may help mitigate work stress.

Evaluating the efficacy of a mindfulness mobile app for stress reduction in nurses

Objective: All Nurses experience work stress that can take their focus away from patient care. Healthcare organizations strive to identify successful, cost-effective stress reduction programs. Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training is a validated approach to stress reduction, usually in a class format. However, financial and time constraints make it inaccessible to most practicing nurses. Alternatively, mobile mindfulness apps offer an approach to mindfulness that can reach large populations, are available 24/7, anonymous, and cost effective.Methods: This prospective, study evaluated the efficacy of a mindfulness mobile app for stress reduction in nurses utilizing Whil, a Mobile App that offers mindfulness training specifically geared towards health professionals. Eight hundred and fifty-two nurses were recruited from twelve sites (71 per site) within a large Health Care System in the Northeast United States.Results: Two scales were used to test results. Nurses Stress Scale (NSS) results indicated that nurses experienced a reduction in stress level with use and time spent in the app. Nurses in the 31-40 age range and nurses on 12-hour shifts experienced greater stress levels.Conclusions: Significant differences were seen in the Subscales Conflict with Physicians, Conflict with other Nurses, and Lack of Support. There was no change in the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) over time. Spearman’s correlation showed a significant and negative correlation between NSS and MAAS scores. The Whil Mobile App is effective for stress reduction in practicing nurses on all shifts and is cost effective.

Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies for Frontline Nurses Caring for COVID-19 Patients: A Path Analysis.

This cross-sectional study explored the relationships among perceived stress, social support, positive coping, and mental health in frontline nurses caring for patients with COVID-19 in China. A quantitative cross-sectional study. A convenience sample of 339 eligible frontline nurses was identified from a designated hospital for COVID-19 in Shanghai, China, between May 2022 and August 2022. Data from nurses were collected through an online survey that contained 4 measurement domains: perceived stress, social support, coping strategies, and mental health. Path analysis was used to analyze the data in SPSS 24.0 and AMOS 23.0. The model tested in the path analysis fit the data well. The results demonstrated relationships among perceived stress, social support, positive coping, and mental health among frontline nurses caring for patients with COVID-19. Social support had a positive effect on positive coping strategies and a negative effect on perceived stress and mental health. In addition, path analysis indicated that social support moderated the relationship between perceived stress and mental health in nurses. Nurses experienced work-related mental stress while providing COVID-19-related care. Based on study findings, social support is expected to play a key role in stress management in nurses. Expanding opportunities for social support is an essential step for nurses to improve their mental health and quality of life.

Interdisciplinary cooperation with solution-focused brief therapy to reduce job stress, burnout, and coping in Chinese nurses: A randomised controlled trial

BackgroundIncreased job stress and burnout are common among clinical nurses in China, reducing their work efficiency and nursing quality. Multiple studies have been conducted on brief interventions to reduce job stress and burnout among nurses. However, research has been hampered by a lack of psychological knowledge among nursing staff. AimTo assess a short-term intervention designed to improve nurses' coping strategies and to mitigate job stress and burnout through interdisciplinary cooperation DesignThis randomised controlled trial Settingsand participants: We randomly allocated 60 nurses working at a tertiary general hospital in a city in China to an experimental (n = 30) or a control group (n = 30). MethodsA collaborative research team comprising psychology and nursing specialists was established to conduct this study. The control group received routine psychological intervention, whereas the intervention group received a short-term interdisciplinary treatment approach that focused on cooperation. Chinese nurses’ job stressors, job burnout, and simplified coping style scales were used to evaluate both groups before and after the intervention. ResultsA comparison of the scores for job burnout, total job stress, and positive coping before and after the interventions revealed significant improvements in the test group, whereas the scores for emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and total work stress in the control group demonstrated statistically significant differences. No significant differences were observed in the scores for negative coping, personal achievement, and simple coping style between the test and control groups before and after the intervention. ConclusionsSolution-focused brief therapy implemented through interdisciplinary collaboration effectively enhances clinical nurses' active coping style, alleviates job stress and burnout, and offers valuable guidance for nursing management practices.

Stress in novice nurses in new work environments: a systematic review.

Inexperienced nursing care can compromise the quality of care and the well-being of patients. The aim of this study was to assess the main sources of stress encountered by nurses and novice nurses in a setting not previously experienced. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA format in Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL electronic databases in March 2024. A total of 395 studies were identified, of which 16 met the inclusion criteria. Selection was made on the basis of topic relevance and methodological quality, assessed using the critical tools of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). A total of 16 studies were included in this review. Of the 16 selected, 10 were cross-sectional studies, 3 were cohort studies, 2 were qualitative, and 1 was a systematic review. The studies revealed that the main stressors for novice nurses included time management, workload, and interpersonal relationships. The results underline that organizational factors, such as lack of support and high work demands, play a key role in generating stress. Identifying and addressing the key challenges faced by novice nurses, such as workload, adjustment to the environment, professional expectations, and interpersonal relationships, is crucial to sustain their professional engagement and ensure the quality of health care. This understanding is essential for creating efficient policies and practices that enhance the occupational well-being and stability of nurses in the workforce. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024520651, CRD42024520651.

Nurses' strategies for coping with stress in the face of the influx of war refugees from Ukraine to Poland.

Russian military's incursion into Ukraine sparked the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. As Ukraine's neighboring country, Poland became the primary destination for these refugees. Ukrainians staying in Poland under the EU's Temporary Protection Directive receive humanitarian support similarly to asylum seekers, but the legal pathways, length of stay and integration processes differ significantly as the Directive provides for more immediate, collective protection without the complexity of individual asylum applications. The influx of war refugees generates extremely complex situations that health personnel, especially nurses, must face on a daily basis. Identify whether and to what extent the emergence of a large number of patients with war-related experiences constituted a source of stress for nurses, and how Polish nurses coped with this issue. A cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2022 in Białystok, Poland. It included 473 certified nurses working in hospitals affiliated with the District Chamber of Nurses in Białystok. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) questionnaire and Mini-COPE inventory (Polish version of Carver'a BriefCOPE inventory were used in the study. The average stress level among nurses was moderate, with nearly equal proportions of nurses experiencing low, medium, and high stress levels. Nurses who had contact with refugees in the last six months and/or helped them, did not present an increased level of stress - on the contrary, this level was lower. Nurses who helped refugees at work more often used a planning strategy in stressful situations, and less frequently reacted to stress using humour, religion, denial or venting. The greater workload and more frequent contacts between Polish nurses and Ukrainian war refugees were a factor increasing work fatigue, but, paradoxically, at the same time reducing the level of stress in a situation giving the feeling of a duty well fulfilled. Empowering nurses through greater autonomy and fostering supportive work environments, especially in crisis situations like the care of war refugees has a positive impact on coping with stress.

Nursing stress and associated factors during covid-19 pandemic: findings of a cross-sectional study at tertiary hospitals in Bangladesh

Background: The COVID-19 epidemic has posed an unparalleled obstacle to healthcare systems worldwide. Particularly in the pandemic period, nursing is seen as a demanding profession with high standards. This study was conducted to assess the level of nursing stress and to identify the factors related to high nursing stress among nurses working in dedicated COVID-19 hospitals. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from selected three dedicated COVID-19 public hospitals in Dhaka city of Bangladesh named Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College, and Hospital, Dhaka North City Corporation dedicated COVID-19 hospital from 1st July 2021 to 30th June 2022. Total respondents were 368 who had working experience more than 6 months in above mentioned hospitals. Data were collected by face-to-face interview through pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Nursing stress was assessed by Nursing Stress Scale (NSS) and categorized as low (≤39), moderate (40-62), and high (>62) stress score. Data analysis was carried out by using SPSS version 26. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 30.8±7.8 years, wherein highest number of respondents were in age group 20-30 years (50.3%). Among the respondents 86.7% were female, 83.4% were married and average monthly family income Tk. 53839±28587.7 taka. About 63% respondents had diploma degrees, 77.4% worked in different wards, and mean working hour per week was 51.9±5.6 hour. Overall, maximum 52.2% had moderate stress, while 39.4% had high stress and only 8.4% had low stress. Age >30 years, male, marital status, working place, having senior citizen (>60 years) and feeling stressed for isolation were the significant risk factors for having high stress level. Conclusion: Occupational health education, training programs, stress relieving programs, and motivational programs must be implemented in tertiary level hospitals. Special attention should be given on older aged married male nurses, having elderly family members and feeling stressed for isolation. JOPSOM 2023; 42(1):54-61

Work stress and professional quality of life among Chinese nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: the chain mediating role of self-compassion and benefit finding

BackgroundSince the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), front-line nurses have faced not only daily work stress but also a high risk of infection and excessive workload, leading to unsatisfactory professional quality of life (ProQOL). This study aimed to explore whether self-compassion (SC) and benefit finding (BF) play a chain mediating role between work stress and ProQOL among Chinese nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsFrom March to April 2022, a sample of 13,936 Chinese nurses was recruited through snowball sampling. Demographic information, work stress, SC, BF, and ProQOL were assessed. The SPSS 25.0 software and Amos 24.0 software were used for statistical analysis. The bootstrap method was employed to construct and examine the chain mediating structural equation model.ResultsThe ProQOL level of Chinese nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic was moderate. The overall fit indices for the compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout (BO), and secondary traumatic stress (STS) models were satisfactory (χ²/df = 2.486, 3.256, 2.553, RMSEA = 0.011, 0.014, 0.011, the GFI, AGFI, NFI, and CFI values were all above 0.90). Work stress had direct effects on CS, BO, and STS (β=–0.171, 0.334, 0.222, P < 0.001), and also indirectly affected these outcomes through SC (point estimate=–0.010, 0.021, 0.024, P < 0.001), BF (point estimate=–0.033, 0.015, − 0.011, P < 0.001), as well as their chain mediating effect (point estimate=–0.015, 0.006, − 0.005, P < 0.001).ConclusionsOur study suggests that SC and BF partially mediated the association between work stress and ProQOL in Chinese nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Training on SC and BF may be crucial components of interventions aimed at improving ProQOL.

Stress at work and common mental disorders in nursing professionals in the oncology scenario

Stress is increasingly present in the world of work, compromising or enhancing harmful effects on the mental health of these workers. This study aims to analyze whether stress at work can cause common mental disorders in nursing workers in the oncology setting. This is a descriptive study with a quantitative approach, data collection was carried out from March to April 2023, using three instruments. The results showed, according to the EET, the prevalence of moderate/high stress was 56.76% (n=21) in nurses and 59.70% (n=40) in nursing technicians. Regarding the suspicion of CMD in 40.54% of nurses and 50.75% among nursing technicians. There was an association between stress and CMD in nurses with statistical significance p=0.0185. It is concluded that a significant number of nursing professionals are at potential risk for mental illness

Nurses’ resilience and burnout during COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Background and aims: Nurses are exposed to a variety of stresses that can cause mental health problems and lead to burnout. However, the severity of these problems in nurses also depends on their resilience. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the correlation between nurses’ resilience and burnout levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 328 nurses from four hospitals in Hilla city, Babylon province, Iraq, were enrolled in August and September 2021. Data collection tools included a demographic information form, the Anxiety, Stress, and Depression Scale (DASS-21), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS-16 software at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The mean resilience score among nurses was 68.05±17.04, and the majority (77.4%) had a moderate level of burnout. There was a significant and inverse correlation between depression (r=-0.27, P&lt;0.001), anxiety (r=-0.12, P&lt;0.001), stress (r=-0.180, P&lt;0.001), and resilience of nurses. Also, there was a significant correlation between nurses’ burnout and resilience. Conclusion: Enhancing nurses’ resilience is crucial for improving their mental health and sustaining healthcare quality during crises. Future studies should explore interventions to boost resilience and examine their long-term effects on burnout and mental health. These findings help develop strategies to support nurses, ensuring better healthcare outcomes during challenging times.

Secondary Traumatic Stress and Coping Experiences in Psychiatric Nurses Caring for Trauma Victims: APhenomenological Study.

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the secondary traumatic stress and coping experiences of psychiatric nurses who care for people who have experienced psychological trauma with a phenomenological approach. In this study, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 18 psychiatric nurses residing in Turkey using the phenomenological research method. The criterion sampling method was used to reach the sample group. Interviews continued until data saturation was achieved, and all interviews were audio-recorded and then transcribed. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The study was conducted and reported using the COREQ checklist. In the analysis of the data, three themes (difficulties in caring for people who have experienced trauma, the effects of caring for people who have experienced trauma on the individual and coping, reflections of secondary trauma on the profession) and seven sub-themes (mental, physical, social, psychosocial difficulties and coping, quality of care, professional and organisational aspects) were identified. As a result of the study, it was determined that secondary traumatic stress was observed in psychiatric nurses caring for individuals who experienced psychological trauma. It was determined that caring for people who have experienced psychological trauma can negatively affect nurses psychosocially, and individuals have difficulty coping. In line with the results of the study, it is thought that necessary intervention programs should be created for nurses experiencing secondary traumatic stress.

Factors influencing job stress in pediatric nurses during the pandemic period: Focusing on fatigue, pediatric nurse-parent partnership.

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing pediatric nurses'job stress, including their level of fatigue and partnerships with the parents of patients. This investigation aimed to findings of this study may lead to the development of strategies to reduce pediatric nurse's job stress. Participants were recruited from pediatric, pediatric intensive care, and neonatal intensive care units across seven general hospitals. Eligibility requiresa minimum of 6 months of experience in pediatric nursing. The sample size was determined using the G*power program, considering various variables, including age, marital status, presence of children, and work-related characteristics, leading to a final sample size of 135, adjusted for a 10% dropout rate. Data collection was conducted through self-report questionnaires, and analysis involved frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-tests, ANOVA, and stepwise multiple regression, using SPSS Statistics 27.0. This study confirmed a significant correlation between pediatric nurses'fatigue and job stress, with higher levels of fatigue associated with increased job stress. Stepwise regression analysis showed that fatigue and age were significant predictors of job stress among pediatric nurses, explaining 23% of the variance. However, detailed analysis showed that younger nurses had lower job stress scores compared to older nurses. This result suggests that more experienced nurses may experience higher job stress due to increased responsibilities and emotional burdens. This study identified the need for effective strategies to manage fatigue and reduce job stress among pediatric nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Younger nurses, particularly those under 25 and between 26 and 30 years old, experience lower job stress compared to older nurses. Comprehensive support systems should be developed, including workload management, emotional support, and programs to enhance partnerships between nurses and parents. These strategies can improve job satisfaction and the quality of care provided to young patients. Additionally, they ensure a more resilient and effective healthcare workforce during pandemics and similar crises.

The influence of effort-reward imbalance and perceived organizational support on perceived stress in Chinese nurses: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe nursing profession is characterized by high intensity and significant stress. Nurses must not only manage heavy workloads but also address diverse patient needs, engage in emotional labor, and cope with occupational exposure risks. These factors collectively contribute to substantial work-related stress for nurses. Currently, there is limited research on identifying distinct categories of nurse stress profiles and their influencing factors.ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore the potential categories of perceived stress among nurses using Latent profile analysis (LPA) and to analyze the influence of sociodemographic factors, effort-reward imbalance, and perceived organizational support on perceived stress categories.DesignCross-sectional studyMethodsData were collected via electronic surveys from 696 nurses in Shanxi Province, China, from February 18 to 28, 2023. The survey parameters included sociodemographic characteristics, nurse job stressors scale, effort-reward imbalance scale, and perceived organizational support scale. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to classify the perceived stress levels of nurses, and disordered multi-classification logistic regression was used to identify the influencing factors.ResultsThe most suitable model was a three-profile model, comprising the “low perceived stress” group (10.5%), “moderate perceived stress” group (66.7%), and “high perceived stress” group (22.8%). Multi-classification logistic regression analysis showed that average working hours per day (OR = 3.022, p = 0.026), extrinsic effort (C2 vs. C1, OR = 1.589, p < 0.001; C3 vs. C1, OR = 2.515, p < 0.001), and perceived organizational support (C2 vs. C1, OR = 0.853, p < 0.001; C3 vs. C1, OR = 0.753, p < 0.001) were the factors influencing the classification of nurses’ perceived stress.ConclusionsLatent profile analysis revealed that nurses’ perceived stress exhibits distinct characteristics. It is recommended that clinical administrators should identify these characteristics and the influencing factors of different nurse categories, and adopt targeted intervention strategies to reduce the levels of perceived stress.

Narrative therapy online intervention improves post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression in nurses: A randomized controlled trial.

Clinical nurses have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression, which seriously affect their physical and mental health. Narrative therapy (NT), a therapy for trauma-related psychological disorders, may be an effective intervention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of NT on improving PTSD symptoms, perceived stress, anxiety and depression in nurses. A total of 92 participants who were clinical nurses and had positive PTSD symptom screening results were randomly assigned (1:1) to the intervention and control groups. The intervention group received NT and a psychological stress leaflet, while the control group received only a psychological stress leaflet. PTSD, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression were measured before and after the intervention to assess the effect of NT. After the intervention, the intervention group showed significantly lower levels of PTSD symptoms (P=0.025), perceived stress (P=0.033), anxiety (P=0.004), and depression (P=0.015) compared with the control group. Regarding the dichotomous outcomes of PTSD, anxiety, and depression, there was a statistically significant decrease in the number of positive cases of PTSD (P=0.030) and anxiety (P=0.002), while there was no statistically significant change in the number of positive cases of depression (P=0.060). NT is expected to alleviate PTSD symptoms, stress, anxiety, and depression among clinical frontline nurses, and healthcare professionals should consider applying NT to improve nurses' mental health.

Managing the work stress of inpatient nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review of organizational interventions

BackgroundDuring the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, inpatient nurses faced various work stressors. Little is known about organizational interventions that can mitigate the negative consequences of pandemic-related stressors.ObjectiveThe aim was to provide a synopsis of the literature concerning the types and outcomes of organizational interventions performed during the COVID-19 pandemic that directly (re)organized the work structures of inpatient nurses to address pandemic-related work stressors or to increase nurses’ ability to cope.MethodsWithin this preregistered systematic literature review, we searched four databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, CINAHL) and two preprint databases (MedRxiv, PsyArXiv) for interventional studies of organizational interventions published between 01/2020 and 03/2023 (k = 990 records). We included 12 primary studies after title-abstract and full-text screening. A synthesis of results without meta-analysis was conducted. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials – version 2 (RoB-2) and Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies - of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool.ResultsAll interventions were implemented in hospitals. The reasons given for implementation included pandemic-related work stressors such as a high workload, understaffing, and a lack of medical resources. To respond to the various work stressors, half of the studies took a multilevel approach combining organizational and person-oriented interventions (k = 6). Most studies (k = 8) took a secondary prevention approach, focusing on the organization of rest breaks (k = 5). With respect to outcomes, the studies examined nurse-related stress and resilience, turnover intention, job satisfaction, and other factors. Risk-of-bias analyses revealed that conclusions about the effectiveness of the interventions are limited due to confounding factors and self-selection.ConclusionsThe identified interventions provide a basis for future research to draw conclusions on the effectiveness of organizational interventions during pandemics. The promotion of adequate work breaks could be useful if the work stressors associated with strain and negative consequences cannot be changed directly. However, the same stressors (e.g., high workload) can hinder nurses from participating in offered interventions. This emphasizes the importance of directly addressing inpatient nurses’ work stressors.RegistrationProspero-ID CRD42023364807 (March 2023).

Exploring the effects of emergency department crowding on emergency nurses.

Although the phenomenon of crowding in emergency departments (EDs) is not new, it remains a significant problem for patients, ED staff and the wider healthcare system. Crowding in EDs, which is also called overcrowding, has been widely explored in the literature, but there are relatively few studies of the subject from an emergency nurse perspective. This article reports the findings of a literature review that aimed to explore the effects of crowding on nurses working in EDs. Four key themes were identified from a synthesis of 16 articles included in the review: staffing and skill mix; inadequate care and the effect on nurses' well-being and stress levels; violence in the ED; and hospital metrics and patient flow. Further research is required to explore in more depth the effects of ED crowding on emergency nurses and to address the multiple factors that perpetuate the phenomenon.

The association between occupational stress, sleep quality and premenstrual syndrome among clinical nurses

ObjectivePremenstrual Syndrome is also known as premenstrual tension syndrome because of the pronounced premenstrual mental and emotional anomalies. This study focuses on the association between occupational stress, sleep quality and premenstrual syndrome in clinical nurses and the mediating role of sleep quality.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted to measure occupational stress, sleep quality and premenstrual syndrome in 415 clinical nurses using the Chinese Nurses Stressor Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale, and the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale. SPSS was used to explore the relationship between the variables, and AMOS was used to explore the mediating role between the variables.ResultsNurses’ occupational stress positively predicted PMS (β = 0.176, p < 0.001), and the regression coefficients for sleep quality were significantly different for both paths of nurses’ occupational stress (β = 0.665, p < 0.001) and PMS (β = 0.261, p < 0.001). The mediation effect accounts for 49.57% of the total effect.ConclusionThis study revealed a notably high incidence of PMS among clinical nurses in China, with occupational stress and sleep quality significantly correlated with PMS. Sleep quality played an intermediary role between occupational stress and PMS. Consequently, managers should prioritize addressing occupational stress, mitigating PMS symptoms, enhancing nurses’ health and nursing quality, and preventing nursing risks through mental health support and improving sleep quality.

Secondary traumatic stress and vicarious posttraumatic growth in oncology nurses: the mediating role of empathy.

The relationship between secondary traumatic stress (STS), empathy, and vicarious post-traumatic growth (VPTG) in oncology nurses is unclear. Understanding these links is crucial for improving nurse well-being and patient care quality. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between STS, empathy, and VPTG among oncology nurses. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a multicentric setting. Data collection involved oncology nurses completing questionnaires assessing STS, empathy, and VPTG levels. Data analysis included correlation analyses, multiple stepwise regression analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the interrelationships between these variables. The study adhered to the STROBE checklist. A total of 391 oncology nurses participated in the study. They showed moderate to low levels of VPTG and high levels of STS. STS exhibited a negative association with VPTG, while empathy demonstrated a positive direct association with both VPTG and STS. Moreover, SEM indicated that empathy mediated the relationship between STS and VPTG, with a partial mediating effect of 0.127. Factors such as receiving psychological training, educational attainment, STS, and empathy collectively explained 24% of the variance in VPTG. Our findings highlighted the negative correlation between STS and VPTG among oncology nurses. Additionally, empathy was found to mediate the relationship between STS and VPTG, suggesting it plays a significant role in influencing VPTG. To aid oncology nurses, interventions should focus on reducing STS and enhancing empathy. Strategies like resilience workshops, peer support, and stress management can foster VPTG. Creating a supportive work environment is crucial for nurses' well-being and quality patient care.