PERCEIVED SOURCES OF STRESS AND REACTIONS TO STRESSFUL SITUATIONS AMONG NURSES WORKING IN PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS

Abstract

Psychiatric nursing is a specialized area of nursing practice that involves dealing with psychological distress and suffering of the mentally disordered, the work is demanding and requires constant interaction with disturbed client groups. It requires the confrontation of difficult and challenging behaviors on a regular basis. It is evident that consequences of stress whether feeling healthy or distressed are important factors that affect nurse's function and the quality of patient care. Therefore, psychiatric nurse's awareness of possible sources of stress, limitations, capabilities, adaptive and maladaptive coping patterns will enhance them to react appropriately to stressful situations and manage properly patients' conditions while feeling healthy. So, investigating nurses' perception of possible sources of stress and reactions to stressful situations will enhance the awareness and consequentlY improve management of patients' conditions. The aim of the present study was to identify perceived sources of stress and reactions to stressful situations among nurses working in psychiatric hospitals. The study was carried out at El-Maamoura Medical Psychiatric Hospital and Tanta Mental Health Hospital. The sample consisted of 182 nurses (males and females). Data were collected by a structured interview schedule which covered the following: aspects related to the work environment (work load, staff shortage, lack of incentives, lack of training and support),