Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.2478/10004-1254-63-2012-2140
Professional Stress And Health Among Critical Care Nurses In Serbia
Dragana Milutinović
orcid.org/0000-0003-2693-543X
; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nursing, Novi Sad, Serbia
Boris Golubović
; University of Novi Sad, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic of Psychiatry, Novi Sad, Serbia
Nina Brkić
; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Special Rehabilitation and Education, Novi Sad, Serbia
Bela Prokeš
; The Institute for the Health Protection of Workers Novi Sad, Serbia
Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify and analyse professional stressors, evaluate the level of stress in nurses in Intensive Care Units (ICU), and assess the correlation between the perception of stress and psychological and somatic symptoms or diseases shown by nurses. The research, designed as a crosssectional study, was carried out in the Intensive Care Units (ICU), in health centres in Serbia. The sample population encompassed 1000 nurses. Expanded Nursing Stress Scale (ENSS) was used as the research instrument. ENSS revealed a valid metric characteristic within our sample population. Nurses from ICUs rated situations involving physical and psychological working environments as the most stressful ones, whereas situations related to social working environment were described as less stressful; however, the differences in the perception of stressfulness of these environments were minor. Socio-demographic determinants of the participants (age, marital status and education level) significantly affected the perception of stress at work. Significant differences in the perception of stressfulness of particular stress factors were observed among nurses with respect to psychological and somatic symptoms (such as headache, insomnia, fatigue, despair, lower back pain, mood swings etc.) and certain diseases (such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, diabetes mellitus etc). In view of permanent escalation of professional stressors, creating a supportive working environment is essential for positive health outcomes, prevention of job-related diseases and better protection of already ill nurses.
Keywords
professional stressors; psychological and somatic symptoms; questionnaires; workplace
Hrčak ID:
83248
URI
Publication date:
15.6.2012.
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