title: Effect of the clinical support nurse role on work-related stress for nurses on an inpatient pediatric oncology unit.
abstract: High patient acuity, heavy workload, and patient deaths can all contribute to work-related stress for pediatric oncology nurses. A new leadership role, the clinical support nurse (CSN), was recently initiated on the oncology unit of a large Canadian pediatric hospital to support frontline staff and reduce some of the stresses related to clinical activity. The CSN assists nurses with complex patient care procedures, provides hands-on education at the bedside, and supports staff in managing challenging family situations. This study explores the effect of the CSN role on the nurses' work-related stress using the Stressor Scale for Pediatric Oncology Nurses. A total of 58 nurses participated in this study for a response rate of 86%. The results show that the intensity of work-related stress experienced by nurses in this study is significantly less (P < .001) on shifts staffed with a CSN compared with shifts without a CSN.
authors.affiliation: Haematology/Oncology/BMT/Immunology Program at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ann.chang@sickkids.ca
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kicis
authors.forename: Gurjit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sangha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000193:education; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012944:Social Support; D013041:Specialties, Nursing; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*