Prevalence and Predictors of Perceived Stress at Work in Palliative Care Nursing: A Cross-Sectional Study from Poland

Background: Palliative care (PC) nurses are exposed to the pain and suffering of patients and their families while also dealing with their own stress resulting from the nature of their work. Objectives: Among palliative care nurses in Poland, understanding the phenomenon of occupational-related stress and its predictors. Design: This is an observational study. Setting/Subjects: The study was conducted in Poland and the data was collected from palliative care nurses. The survey included 424 nurses, and their responses were utilized to assess the occupational stress level. Measurements: The occupational stress level was measured using questionnaires with standardized survey instruments. Results: The mean occupational stress level among palliative care nurses was 25.57 (±5.56). Nurses aged 50-59 who lived in rural areas and had 6-15 years of palliative care experience had higher levels of occupational stress (p < 0.05). The mean fatigue level was 20.78 (±5.41), while work engagement was 4.26 (±1.09). Palliative care nurses reported the greatest social support from significant others (20.87 ± 5.6). With regard to the professional quality of life, the highest mean score was obtained in the "Compassion satisfaction" subscale and was 40.59 (±6.67). Conclusions: Palliative care nurses experience moderate occupational stress. The number of years of professional experience, the amount of fatigue and burnout felt, as well as degree of secondary traumatic stress endured contribute to higher stress levels. The study has found significant gender differences, with men reporting significantly lower stress levels than women.