Pediatric Nurses' Stresses in Intensive Care Units and its Related Factors

Abstract

Stress occurs when there is imbalance between perceived demand and the person's perception of his ability to meet this demand. Occupational stress has been identified more frequently in jobs low in autonomy and highly physical and psychological demands. Nursing is traditionally typical of such occupations. Although all areas of nursing are stressful, intensive care unit is particularly known for the stress places on nurses, in which intensive care nurses work in an environment that is highly stressful for even the best prepared individual. Intensive care units are high technological areas in which nurses are required to make rapid life-sustaining and life saving decision. ICUs nurses are confronted daily by multiple factors that cause stress, which can be classified into four categories, personal, interpersonal, health care system, professional and enviromental factors. Stress can adversely affect the quality of nursing care delivery, as well as having an economic cost to the community. Stress has also some potential impacts on nurses. Because the emotional and physical strain that accompanies stress is uncomfortable, people are motivated to do things to reduce their stress. Such research is also important to the intensive care nursing field as it can identify the nurses stresses and its related factors.

Aim of study: This study aimed to identify pediatric nurses stresses and its related factors, among nurses in the Intensive Care Units of Children's University Hospital at ElShatby.

This study was carried out at the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), pediatric surgical intensive care unit (PSICU), and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Children's University Hospital at El-Shatby.

The sample comprised 135 ICU nurses who were available at the time of study in the previously mentioned setting.

Study tools:

Two tools were used for data collection:

Tool 1: Nurses' Stresses Related Factors Structure Questionnaire:

It was developed by the researcher after reviewing of related literature. It consisted of two parts.

Part 1: Socio-demographic data about the subjects which included: age, level of education, qualification, and year of experience.

Part 2: Nurses Stresses Factors.

It was include the following:

1- Personal factors: such as, feeling of inadequacy, fear of losing job.

2- Interpersonal factors: such as, conflict with colleagues, poor relationships with patients.