Job‐related stress among nursing personnel in Greek dialysis units

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe specific work-related factors that contribute to increased levels of stress experienced by nursing personnel, and to compare their impact on nurses and assistant nurses who work in Dialysis Units (DU) to those who work in Peritoneal Dialysis Units (PDU) in Greece. The sample of the study consisted of 682 members of nursing personnel working in DU and in PDU in Greek Hospitals. The collection of data was done by means of a questionnaire. The latter included questions about the motivation of nursing personnel for having chosen to work in these units along with questions about the stress factors related to the patients and their care, the role of the nurse in the unit, and the working conditions. According to the results of the study, the percentage of nursing personnel working in DU or PDU by their own choice was 71% and 8.3% respectively, whereas the rest of the staff were placed there irrespective of their preferences, by the Administrators. Among nursing personnel who had chosen to work in DU, the reported motives that contributed to their decision were the absence of a night shift (27.8%), and working in a closed unit. The main motive that incited nursing personnel to work in PDU was the acquisition and the application of specialized knowledge. The percentage of nursing personnel working in DU that expected high levels of job satisfaction was 77%, whereas the corresponding percentage for nursing personnel working in PDU was 65%. However, only 44% and 37% of the nursing personnel working in DU and PDU reported high levels of job satisfaction. The most important stressors related: i) To the patient: were the risk of contamination (79% DU, 84% PDU) and the death of a patient (77% DU, 80% PDU). 2) To the role of nursing personnel in the unit: were increased responsibilities (65% DU, 37% PDU), low involvement of the nursing personnel in decision making (58% DU, 54% PDU), and low professional status of nursing personnel. 3) To the working conditions: were the shortage of nursing personnel (74% DU, 99% PDU), limited material (74% DU, 57% PDU), the closed environment (75% DU, 64% PDU) and the daily work routine (78% DU, 61% PDU). In conclusion, we can say that working in DU and PDU provokes increased stress in nursing personnel, even though the implicated stress factors differ between these units.

Psychological stress and strain on employees in dialysis facilities: a cross-sectional study with the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire

“…Work in dialysis facilities is marked by intensive and long-term contact with chronically ill patients [1,2], who are frequently frustrated or depressive [3]. This confrontation with suffering and death is very demanding for the medical care personnel in dialysis facilities [2,4-6].…”

“…Current scientific knowledge indicates that there are positive aspects of this work, including high job satisfaction [1,7]. Moreover, nurses in dialysis facilities perceived their work as worthwhile and were very interested in professional details [17].…”

Burnout levels of hemodialysis nurses

“…The death of patients following long-term care can also lead to burnout in dialysis unit personnel. 16,17 A literature search revealed that the exhaustion levels of physicians, teachers, nurses from various clinics and academics have been studied in Turkey. 9,13,18 However, there are few studies that focus on fatigue and burnout in dialysis unit nurses.…”

Hemodializės Skyriuje Dirbančių Medicinos Darbuotojų Rizikos Veiksnių Ir Jų Įtakos Sveikatai Analizė

“…Stresas, kaip kenksmingas darbo aplinkos veiksnys, būdin-gas hemodializės skyriaus medicinos darbuotojams, nes jų veiklai būdinga didelė profesinė ir socialinė atsakomybė, sudėtingų užduočių sprendimas, dideli krūviai, laiko trū-kumas, konfliktinės situacijos ir kiti stresoriai [14,15].…”