Mental Disorder Symptoms Among Nurses in Canada

Abstract

Background Nurses face regular exposures to potentially psychologically traumatic events as part of their occupational responsibilities. Cumulative stress due to repeated exposure to such events is associated with poor mental health and an increased risk of developing clinically significant symptoms consistent with some mental disorders. Purpose The current study was designed to estimate rates of mental disorder symptoms among nurses in Canada and identify demographic characteristics that are associated with increased risk for mental disorder symptoms. Method An online survey was conducted with Canadian nurses in both English and French. Participants were recruited largely through the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) member unions, non-CFNU member unions, and social media. The survey assessed current mental disorder symptoms using well-validated screening measures. Results A total of 4267 participants (93.8% women) completed the survey. Almost half of participants screened positive for a mental disorder (i.e., 47.9%). No gender differences emerged. Significant differences in proportions of positive screens based on each measure were found across demographic groups (e.g., age, province of residence, type of nurse). Conclusions The rate of positive screens appears much higher than mental disorder prevalence rates in the general Canadian population, but there were important methodological differences. The current results provide potentially important information to support researchers and healthcare administrators to investigate possible ways to mitigate and manage mental health in nursing workplaces.

Does the Type of Exposure to Workplace Violence Matter to Nurses’ Mental Health?

“…However, a comparison of the overall sample (composed of nurses across a variety of roles and healthcare sectors) from which this study sample was sourced, with the provincial nursing workforce demonstrated that our sample was closely representative of the nursing population in BC with respect to age, gender and professional designation [ 52 ]. Similarly, a recent national survey by the Canadian Federation of Nurses’ Union found that proportions of nurses meeting the criteria for depression (36%) and anxiety (26%) were similar to the findings of the current study, thus providing more evidence suggesting a closely representative sample [ 53 ]. Regardless of this finding, I recommend cautiously generalizing the findings beyond the study sample.…”

When Our Work Hits Home: Trauma and Mental Disorders in Correctional Officers and Other Correctional Workers

“…Nursing staff and other healthcare professionals report significant mental health challenges ( 33 ) and are also employed in correctional settings; accordingly, healthcare professionals work in the same difficult work settings as correctional officers. Healthcare staff are not typically included in groups of first responders or PSP; nevertheless, researchers have started to examine work-related mental health issues among institutional and community healthcare employees.…”

“…Healthcare staff are not typically included in groups of first responders or PSP; nevertheless, researchers have started to examine work-related mental health issues among institutional and community healthcare employees. Nurses report frequent PPTE exposures ( 33 ), with evidence that psychiatric nurses report high rates of exposure to violence and other disturbing patient behaviors ( 34 ). For example, there is evidence that most healthcare employees working in emergency departments (83.7%) report having experienced violence ( 34 ), with a mean of 28.22 such events in their careers; almost 40% of nurses, slightly more than half of direct care providers, and more than 20% of physicians report experiencing workplace violence.…”

“…Healthcare professionals also report elevated rates of PTSD, particularly those exposed to aggression at work ( 36 , 37 ). An estimated 10% of health services employees report experiencing symptoms of PTSD, but that figure increases to 23% for nurses ( 33 ) and to 61% for those exposed to workplace violence ( 38 ). Hilton et al ( 37 ) found that 24% of health services employees in a Canadian psychiatric hospital reported meeting the cut-off on a screening measure for symptoms of PTSD.…”

“…In a survey of staff at three psychiatric hospitals, PTSD symptoms were associated with disturbing patient behaviors as much as with critical events, such as violence and threats ( 39 ). Forensic staff, who provide care for individuals charged with criminal offenses, reported exposure to more violence and threats than non-forensic staff, and were twice as likely to meet a screening cut off for PTSD ( 33 ). Thus, healthcare staff working with justice-involved individuals in the forensic system may be at increased risk for experiencing PTSD symptoms.…”