Critical care nursing stress: the findings revisited

Twenty-eight articles representing 19 investigations of critical care unit stress were reviewed. Studies were chosen if the stated purpose was to explore, describe, categorize, reduce, compare, or manipulate stress experienced by nurses employed in critical care settings. types of critical care units included were the intensive care unit, coronary care unit, pediatric intensive care unit, and the neonatal intensive care unit. Findings and trends included: Purposes of most studies were to substantiate the presence of stress in critical care and to describe the antecedents of stress. Critical care units, although generally portrayed as highly stressful, were not shown to be more stressful than other types of nursing units. Theoretical bases, implementation of interventive strategies, and evaluation of interventions were absent in all studies reviewed. Recommendations for further research directions are given, and a categorization scheme for classification of perceived stresses is offered.