A measurement tool for assessing stress among mental health nurses

There is growing evidence that nursing is a stressful occupation, particularly mental health nursing. However, the lack of an appropriate measurement tool has meant it has been difficult to investigate the nature of this stress. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of one such scale for measuring stress in mental health nurses, the Mental Health Professional Stress Scale. A total of six questionnaires was sent to a sample of 210 community and hospital mental health nurses. The findings suggested that the scale was a useful measure and predictor of stress. The most consistent predictor of poor mental health outcomes for nurses was home/work conflict, outweighing the significance of client/patient-related difficulties.