Job stress, work characteristics and social support among nurses working at port moresby general hospital, Papua New Guinea

Abstract

        A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among Papua New Guinean nurses working at Port Moresby General Hospital in National Capital District, Papua New Guinea with the aim to describe the pattern of job stress (acute & chronic level) and its severity at mild, moderate and severe levels respectively as well as work characteristics and social support. A total of 161 self administered questionnaires were obtained from the nurses during the month of January 2009. Descriptive statistics was employed to describe the independent variables and the outcome under study.
        Most of the nurses were married and had three to five children, earned between 69 to 274 US dollars and lived in places easily accessible by hospital transport services. Half of them experienced acute and chronic stress at moderate levels. Social support (rendered by three support persons namely the nursing supervisor, family and colleagues) revealed
moderate support for the nurses provided by the family, spouse and friends. The family, relatives and friends made work life easier for the nurse and were the easiest support persons to talk to. The nursing supervisors were the ones they could rely upon when the job got tough meanwhile the family were always available to listen to the nurse’s personal problems. When considering work characteristics, the majority (67.3%) were registered nursing officers.Mean number of years of working experience in the hospital was 17 years which ranged between 1 to 40 years. Most of them were permanent staff on government payroll and worked with the 8-hour shift of working schedule. Working hours per week for the nurses ranged from 40 to 59 hours. Job satisfaction and conflict at work revealed degree of moderate levels.
         Policy makers and hospital managers, therefore, must consider the priority of stress reduction programs and facilitate its introduction into nursing colleges in order to prepare nurses to be ready and capable to work and cope with a complex and demanding work environment where job stress is imminent.