Reducing surgical nurses' aseptic practice-related stress

Area of Science:

• Surgical Nursing
• Occupational Health
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Occupational stress in surgery is linked to job satisfaction and well-being.
• Surgery nurses experience stress from workplace demands and role expectations.
• Hospital management and technology can pose challenges to surgical nurses' roles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore stress factors related to aseptic practice in surgery.
• To identify strategies for reducing aseptic practice-related stress among nurses.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative stimulated recall interviews were conducted in a university hospital surgery setting.
• Thirty-one operations were videotaped, with nurses interviewed during recall.
• Transcripts were analyzed using qualitative membership categorization analysis.

Main Results:

• A sixteen-level category of aseptic practice-related stress was identified.
• Seven key stress factors emerged: working experience, time, equipment, personnel, patient, working morals, and power.
• Nurses employed safe, peaceful, competent, and relative means to reduce stress.

Conclusions:

• Aseptic practice-related stress ranges from motivating to exhausting, affecting medical and nursing staff.
• Shared documentation and adherence to recommendations are needed for aseptic practice.
• Evidence-based practices and conflict resolution support nurses' growth and patient safety.