Stressors in renal transplant recipients at six weeks after transplant

The purpose of this study is to identify stressors that renal transplant recipients report experiencing 6 weeks posttransplantation and compare them with stressors reported by Hayward et al. (1989). The sample consists of 48 adult renal transplant recipients. Stressors are measured by the Kidney Transplant Recipient Stress Scale. The most stressful item identified is the possibility of repeated hospitalizations, different from the Hayward Study in which possibility of rejection was the most frequently reported stressor. Nurses can use this information to better understand the stressors related to the renal transplant experience and to then develop appropriate interventions that can enhance clients' self-care actions.