Staff stress on an Alzheimer's unit

Nurses working with the elderly encounter many complex and potentially stressful care situations. Nowhere is this more true than for nursing home staff who work in highly demanding, labor- and client-intensive jobs. A number of factors contribute to the high levels of stress found among nurses who work with the elderly, including continual exposure to physical and emotional pathology and death, and conflict with families, co-workers, supervisors, and representatives from other departments or professions (Goldin, 1985; Klus, 1980). When the stress level in a long-term care facility becomes overwhelming, role conflict, ambiguity, poor self-esteem, and burnout may ensue (Goldin, 1985; Heine, 1986; Klus, 1980; Morrow-Winn, 1985). The process of burnout is characterized by a progressive loss of idealism, energy, and purpose that eventually leads to emotional overextension and exhaustion (Price, 1984).