Sources and predictors of work-related stress among Omani Nurses: A cross sectional study

Abstract

Background Nurses experience high levels of stress as they deal with the patients having complex health care problems. Stress in nursing affects the practice of nursing profession worldwide. In response to this, the investigators explored the sources and predictors of work related stress among Omani Nurses. Methods Samples were selected through proportionate population sampling (PPS) from five selected tertiary care hospitals. Data were collected through self-administered nursing stress scale. The study included 383 Omani nurses. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results The highest level of work-related stress was on the subscale of workload with a mean score of 8.99 followed by the subscale of emotional issues related to death and dying with a mean of 8.72. Omani nurses working in tertiary care hospitals were experiencing high levels of work-related stress due to workload secondary to severe shortage in number of nursing staffs and by performing non-specified work responsibilities. Work- related stress was associated with the nursing position as staff nurses, performing night shift and reduced job satisfaction. Conclusion The study's results may help in developing human resource strategies aimed at minimizing nurses’ stress and improving quality of health care and task force performance.