Nurses Under Stress

Stress is on the Rise for Nurses

Most people realize that nursing is a stressful occupation. But the stress on this essential work group is worst than most people realize. Is it any surprise that there are repeated stories of nurse shortages.?

It will probably only get worse without significant resources and significantly better information about what works in reducing the stress levels in the working environment for nurses.

In a survey from the UK

70% said they suffered from physical or mental health problems linked to work-related stress.

44% said their sex life was suffering

25% drinking more

10% smoking more

33% increased sick leave

A RCN poll last year found more than

25% of nurses surveyed had been physically attacked at work,

50% had been bullied or harassed by a manager

Although there is extensive research and documentation on the levels of stress in the nursing profession there is not much reliable research that can document effective means to address it.

A comprehensive review of the literature found that very little quality research addresses what works when attempting to improve the stress levels of nurses.

Sadly one of their central conclusions was:

Few programs studied here were based on a clearly definedmodel of stress. Consequently, current stress management programsseem to be a sort of guesswork.