Job-related stress experienced by hospital pharmacists and nurses

Pharmacists' and nurses' perceptions of job-related stress and its relationship to career satisfaction were surveyed. A questionnaire was developed and mailed in 1987 to pharmacists and nurses whose names were randomly selected from national mailing lists. Subjects were asked to rate, on a five-point scale (4 = very often), how often they found 39 situations to be stressful. The first 30 situations composed the Health Professions Stress Inventory (HPSI), which was created for this study; the remaining nine questions were included for validation of the HPSI. Respondents were also asked whether they would choose the same profession again. Usable questionnaires were returned by 107 pharmacists and 263 nurses practicing in hospitals. Of the potentially highest stress score of 120, overall mean scores were significantly higher for nurses (63) than for pharmacists (57). Statistical analysis indicated that the sample size was adequate and the HPSI was valid and reliable. Both pharmacists and nurses found situations that dealt with interruptions, poor opportunities for advancement, inadequate staffing levels, excessive workload, and inadequate pay to be the most stressful. Pharmacists viewed not feeling challenged as a significantly more stressful situation than did nurses. Career satisfaction was significantly related to job stress for both pharmacists and nurses; 45% of the pharmacists and 37% of the nurses said they would not choose the same profession again, and those with the highest scores on the stress scale were least likely to choose the same profession again. These hospital nurses and pharmacists reported moderate job-related stress.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)