Stressors in nurses working in intensive care units

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Occupational Health
• Psychology

Background:

• Intensive care units (ICUs) present unique challenges for nursing staff.
• Understanding nurse stressors is crucial for improving work environments and retention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key stressors experienced by nurses in intensive care settings.
• To examine the relationship between career stage, work environment, interpersonal relations, and nurse stress levels.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive cross-sectional study involving 235 nurses from two ICUs in Porto, Portugal.
• Data collected via questionnaires assessing socio-demographics, work context, physical aspects, Interpersonal Work Relations Scale, and Nurse Stress Index.

Main Results:

• Nurses early in their careers reported higher stress levels (Mean = 81).
• Inadequate physical work structures correlated with increased stress (Mean = 83).
• Deteriorating interpersonal relationships were associated with higher nurse stress (Spearman's rho = -0.331).
• Poor relationships with superiors identified 'Support and Organizational Involvement' as a significant stressor (t-test, p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Career stage and physical work environment are significant factors influencing nurse stress in ICUs.
• Interpersonal dynamics, particularly with supervisors, play a critical role in perceived workplace stress.
• Addressing environmental and relational factors is essential for mitigating nurse stress and supporting ICU staff.