Taking aim at nurse stress: a call to action.
The study investigates stress levels and related behaviors of nurses in a military medical center during wartime. In 2007, nurses completed a questionnaire survey with objective validation of data in a subsample using actigraphy over 12 weeks. Of 270 nurses, 255 (94%) returned surveys. A total of 81% reported moderately high or high stress with sources listed as work (66%) and fatigue (39%). Many reported coming to work despite feeling ill and/or stressed (13.6 days/3 months). In contrast, morale was high or moderately high in 71%. Nurses reported an average of 5.5 hours of sleep/night, 8.8 h/wk taken for self, and 3.8 h/wk for exercise. Actigraphy data showed an average of 6.0 hours of sleep/night. These findings highlight a mismatch between stress levels and coping perceptions indicating an inability to properly care for self. To manage the effects of chronic stress, nurse leaders should implement systems targeting healthy life balance.
Kashani
Mariam
M
Integrative Cardiac Health Project, 6900 Georgia Avenue, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307-5001, USA.
Eliasson
Arn
A
Chrosniak
Linda
L
Vernalis
Marina
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D008888:Military Nursing; D008889:Military Personnel; D008890:Military Psychiatry; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult