Stress-related factors and stress management of nurse in Sisaket hospital

Abstract

The outpatients and inpatients, as well as bed occupancy rate of Sisaket hospital,  tended to be increasing and this caused inadequate nurses to take care of the patients. The turnover rate of the nurse in 2015 and 2016 were 2.9% and 1.8% respectively. The data from the exit interview showed that some nurses wanted to do some other occupations, do self-employed business, work someplace else, continue with their higher education, and be with their family in other provinces. The present study was aimed to study stress level, stress management and factors related to the stress of nurse in Sisaket hospital. The present study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The populations were 324 nurses of Sisaket Hospital. The instrument used was a questionnaire consisting of general data of nurses, stress-related factors, self-assessed stress form of the department of mental health and stress management. Descriptive statistics including frequency, mean, standard deviation, chi-square, and Pearson product moment correlation were used for analyzing the data. The findings showed that 59.9% of nurses had a normal stress level, 19.4% of nurses had a bit higher than normal stress level, and 13.6% of nurses had extremely below normal stress level. Stress management included resting (83.6%), music listening (71.3%), expressing stress with the others (71.0%), watching TV, cinema and taking a trip (62.3%). Statistically significant stress-related factors included adequate income, job characteristics, structure and management of the hospital, workplace atmosphere, and relationship among workers. The number of normal duty and overtime duty had statistical significance with stress level (p < 0.05). Gender, marital status, academic degree, job characteristics, income, habitation, the medical problem had no relationship with stress level. In conclusion, the factors related with the stress level of nurses were adequate income, the number of normal duty and overtime duty, job characteristics, structure and management of the hospital, workplace atmosphere, and relationship among workers. Stress management included resting, surfing the internet, and going to a temple and making merit. The results of the study indicated that the hospital should provide sufficient nursing staff per shift. Implement information technology to help reduce heavy workload, and promote activities that bring about happiness. Further study should focus on factors related to the quality of life of nurses.