The daily experiences in the nursing work: Navigating stressful challenges

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Professionals
• Nursing Studies
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Work-related stress is prevalent among nurses globally.
• Nurses in Saudi Arabia face unique challenges including recruitment, retention, performance issues, staff shortages, and cultural conflicts.
• These factors contribute to a vulnerable nursing workforce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nurses' daily work challenges and perspectives in Saudi Arabian healthcare.
• To identify key stressors affecting nurses in this specific cultural and professional context.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative phenomenological approach was employed.
• Data were collected through interviews with seven nurses working in Saudi Arabia.

Main Results:

• Three primary themes emerged: extended work hours/scheduling changes, impacts on social lives, and work demands/facilitation.
• Key stressors identified include role ambiguity, limited support, cultural expectations, inflexible scheduling, and unequal task distribution, disproportionately affecting female nurses.

Conclusions:

• System-level reforms are crucial to support nurses' mental well-being and professional development.
• Recommendations include limiting work hours, improving nurse-to-patient ratios, fairer scheduling, structured orientation, and clear job descriptions.
• Addressing these issues is vital for workforce resilience and high-quality patient care.