Exploring Relationships between Work Stress and Coping Strategies in Nurse Practitioners

• Main Authors: HU,YING-CHI, 胡瑛麒
• Other Authors: CHAN, FONG-YING
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2019
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/hkscx2

碩士 === 弘光科技大學 === 護理研究所 === 107 === Background The nurse practitioners (NPs) have been as a supportive role for the shortage of medical residents in Taiwan in the consideration of staffing expenditure. However, the frequency of invasive procedures conduct and weekly work hour are much higher in the regional hospital than those in the medical center. Particularly, some tasks performed are out of scope of practice, leading to work burden and stress. Objective The objectives would be addressed in this study as follows: 1. To exam the perception of work stress and the coping strategies for NPs. 2. To explore the differences in the individual’s characteristic between the work stress and coping strategies. 3.To explore the relationship between work stress and coping strategies for NPs. Methods This was a descriptive cross-section research design taking place in the district hospital of the central Taiwan. 86 nurse practitioners were enrolled and Occupational Stress Indicator-2 (OSI-2), Work Sources of Stress Scale, Coping Strategies Scale and personal demographic scale were as the instruments. Descriptive statistics, general leaner mode and correlation were analyzed with statistical software SPSS 19.0 Version. Results 1. The results have showed that the mean and the SD was 3.95± 0.92 for the perception of work stress, and NPs were in the moderate level of stress. 2. The mean and the SD was 4.32±0.79 in the Coping Strategies Scale, which was in favor of 「Generally used」. 3. Seniority play a role in the work stress, which made the significant difference in the colleague relationship, personal responsibilities, trivia handling and gain recognition from the superior. Moreover, specialty was contributed statistical significantly in the trivia handling and gain recognition from the superior. 4. The ages of the youngest child implied statistical significantly in the control coping strategies ; on the other hand, the education level, job rank, marital status and the ages of the youngest child made significance in the support coping strategies. 5. As to work stress, managerial role in the control coping was not significant in the simple regression analysis. In the support coping, only trivia handling differed in the correlation analysis. Conclusion / Implications for pratice In terms of work stress, the training curriculum should be in accordance with the occupational competency requirements and the gap analysis in order to facilitate NPs’ clinical knowledge and skill. And, the nurse practitioner- patient ratios should be defined clearly and promptly. It is the great importance of regulating the scope of practice and granting some extent of privilege and protection legally as well. The Department of Nursing should offer the greatest support as some conflict between NPs and doctors. For coping strategies, arranging health education, peer-support group, intra-hospital group discussion will be beneficial. The influential factors include: direct-supervisor should pay attention to the background disparities among NPs. For NPs who are single, bachelors-prepared, in the professional level 3 or 4 and currently parenting preschoolers, providing assistance (i.e., mentoring, consultation) is needed. Besides that, surgical or senior (working years more between 11-15 years) NPs bear much burden compared to others, by means of adjusting the job responsibilities should be further considered.