Assessment Of Perceived Influence Of Stress On The Behavior Of Nurses In Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria

Abstract:

Stress can be defined as a particular relationship between the person and the environment that is assessed by the person as taxing or exceeding his or her resources and endangering his or her well-being. Stress on its own does not have any damaging effect on an individual; however individuals' assessment of an event, their perceptions and interpretations give meaning and their coping ability determines whether events are viewed as threatening or positive. Personality traits also influence individual reaction to stress because what may be strenuous to one person may be stimulating to another. The study was conducted to assess the perceived influence of stress on the work behavior of nurses in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria. Specific objectives were to assess the risk factors of stress among nurses, the relationship between stress and work place, the effect of stress on patient care. The data was collected using a self-structured questionnaire. Percentage and frequency were used to analyze the data, which was presented in tables. The research design used Descriptive research design. The study revealed out of those who participated, 38.6% were within the range of 20-30years, 83.0% were females, 34.9% were Hausas, 26.5% have 16-20 years of work experience, 59.0% accepted shortage of staff to be the risk factor for stress in their work place, 80.7% have experienced stress in their work place, 30.0% said Surgical ward stressed them the most, 49% described their level of stress to be moderate, 83.0% accepted that stress affects the quality of patient care, 78.0% said they are easily irritable by their colleagues when stressed, 65.0% get easily irritable by their patients when stressed, 79.0% attend to their patient's emotional and psychological needs appropriately when stressed, while 41.0% accepted that they ignore patients when stressed out. The researcher recommended the following; The Government should employ more Nurses, which will solve the problem of understaffing, thereby reducing work load, and stress among Nurses. Periodic evaluation of nursing care and improvement on areas that needs enhancement. The Healthcare facility management should allocate more Nurses to units with more stressful events which will help to reduce burn out among nurses. Also, Organizing workshops to educate nurses on how to cope and manage stress in their work place.