Measuring occupational stress in emergency departments

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Emergency Medicine
• Nursing and Medical Professions

Background:

• Emergency departments (EDs) are high-stress environments with significant potential for occupational stress.
• Previous research has often focused narrowly on specific workplace aspects, necessitating broader studies.
• Understanding the perceptions of occupational stress and coping strategies among ED nurses and doctors is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the occupational stress and coping strategies perceived by nurses and doctors in an ED setting.
• To identify and compare the differences in stress and coping experiences between ED nurses and doctors.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional electronic survey was administered to all nurses and doctors at a public metropolitan hospital ED in Queensland, Australia.
• The survey included 13 measures assessing occupational stress and coping, plus one qualitative question.
• Descriptive statistics were used for stressors, and thematic analysis was applied to qualitative responses.

Main Results:

• Nurses reported significantly higher levels of stress and burnout compared to doctors.
• Nurses experienced greater stress related to workload, patient acuity, environmental factors, and providing optimal care.
• Key stressors identified included high workload and insufficient leadership/management support; personal resilience was a common coping strategy.

Conclusions:

• Organizational stressors significantly impact the well-being of ED nurses and doctors.
• Interventions focusing on leadership, recruitment, staffing, and resources are recommended to mitigate occupational stress.
• Further research is needed to explore broader perspectives and the impact of events like COVID-19 on ED staff.