Job Stressors and Coping Mechanisms among Emergency Department Nurses in the Armed Force Hospitals of Taiwan
Nurses in an Armed Force Hospital (AFH) expose to stronger stress than those in a civil hospital, especially in an emergency department (ED). Ironically, stresses of these nurses received few if any attention in academic research in the past. This study collects 227 samples from the emergency departments of four armed force hospitals in central and southern Taiwan. The research indicates that the top five stressors are a massive casualty event, delayed physician support, overloads of routine work, overloads of assignments, and annoying paper work. Excessive work loading was found to be the primary source of stress. Nurses who were perceived to have greater stress levels were more inclined to deploy emotion-oriented approaches and more likely to seek job rotations. Professional stressors and problem-oriented approaches were positively correlated. Unlike other local studies, this study concludes that the excessive work-loading is more stressful in an AFH.
[1] Anderson C: Past victim future victim. Nursing Management 2002, 33(3):
26-30.
[2] Yerkes RM, Dodson JD: The relation of strength of stimulus to rapidity of
habit-formation. Journal of Comparative Neurology and Psychology 1908,
18(5): 459-482.
[3] Steffy BD, Jones JW: Workplace stress and indicators of coronary-disease
risk. Academy of Management Journal 1988, 31(3): 686-698.
[4] Benoliel JQ, McCorkle R, Georgiadou F, Denton T, Spitger A:
Measurement of stress in clinical nursing. Cancer Nursing 1990, 13(4):
221-228.
[5] Siu O-L, Spector PE, Cooper CL, Lu L, Yu S: Managerial stress greater
china: the direct moderator effects of coping strategies and working locus
of control. Applied Psychology: An International Review 2002, 51(4):
608-632.
[6] Lambert, VA, Lambert CE, Petrini M, Li XM, Zhang YJ: Workplace and
personal factors associated with physical and mental health in hospital
nurses in China. Nursing & Health Sciences 2007, 9(2): 120-126.
[7] Pejic AR: Verbal abuse: a problem for pediatric nurses. Pediatric Nursing
2005, 31 (4): 271-281.
[8] Healy CM, Mckay MF: Nursing stress: the effects of coping strategies and
job satisfaction in a sample of Australian nurses. Journal of Advanced
Nursing 2000, 31(3): 681-688.
[9] Lee I: Work stress, coping strategies, and consequences among public
health nurses - based on an interactive model. Taiwan Journal of Public
Health 2004, 23(5):398-405. (in Chinese)
[10] Throckmorton T: Stressors in oncology nursing: potential sources of
absenteeism and turnover. Oncology Nursing Forum 2007, 34 (2):
544-544.
[11] Yayli G, Yaman H, Yaman A: Stress and work-life in a university hospital
in Turkey: evaluation of the brief symptom inventory and brief coping
styles inventory in hospital staff. Social Behavior and Personality 2003,
31(1): 91-100.
[12] Harris N: Management of work-related stress in nursing. Nursing
Standard 2001, 16(10): 47-52.
[13] Zhang J, Liu Y: A survey of work stress and lassitude of nurses in
operating room. Chinese Nursing Research 2005, 19 (3A): 399-402 (in
Chinese).
[14] Lambert VA, Lambert CE, Ito, M: Workplace stressors, ways of coping
and demographic characteristics as predictors of physical and mental health
of Japanese hospital nurses. International Journal of Nursing Studies 2004,
41(1): 85-97.
[15] Lee I, Wang H: Perceived occupational stress and related factors in public
health nurses. Journal of Nursing Research 2002, 10(4): 253-260.
[16] Adeb-Saeedi J: Stress amongst emergency nurses. Australian Emergency
Nursing Journal 2002, 5 (2): 19-24.
[17] Lazarus RS: Toward better research on stress and coping. American
Psychologist (2000), 55(6): 665-673.
[18] Lazarus RS, Folkman S: Transactional theory and research on emotions
and coping. European Journal of Personality 1987, 1(3): 141-169.
[19] Rodeny V: Nurse stress associated with aggression in people with
dementia: its relationship to hardness, cognitive appraisal and coping.
Journal of Advanced Nursing 2000, 31(1): 172-180.
[20] Payne N: Occupational stressors and coping as determinants of burnout in
female hospice nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing 2001, 33 (3):
396-405.
[21] Boey KW: Coping and family relationship in stress resistance: a study of
job satisfaction of nurses in Singapore. International Journal of Nursing
Studies 1998, 35 (6): 353-361.
[22] Shih FF, Chou CF: A study on job stress and coping behaviors of nurses in
drug addictive wards. The Chung Shan Medical Journal 2002, 132,
197-208 (in Chinese).
[23] Chang HC, Chen PY, Kuo SC: Occupational stressor's and related factors
in new nurses in a newly established hospital. Journal of Health
Management 2004, 2 (1): 37-50 (in Chinese).
[24] Matheny KB, Ashby JS, Cupp P: Gender differences in stress, coping, and
illness among college students. The Journal Individual Psychology 2005,
61(4): 365-379.
[25] Tsai SL, Chen ML: A test of reliability and validity of nurse stress
checklist. The Journal of Nursing Research 1996, 4(4): 355-362 (in
Chinese).
[26] Bratt MM, Broome M, Kelber S, Lostocco L: Influence of stress and
nursing leadership on job satisfaction of pediatric intensive care unit
nurses. American Journal of Critical Care 2000, 9(5): 307-317.
[27] Hsiao PC, Tang YY: A concept analysis of stress. The Journal of Nursing
2004, 51(3): 71-75 (in Chinese).
[28] Chan HM, Chen CH, Lan LM: A related survey of staff members'
anticipated turnover and the degree of job stress in neonatal intensive care
unit. VGH Nursing 2005, 22(2): 139-148 (in Chinese).
[29] Wang CL, Huang CY, Lu KY, Ho MY: A study of the social support and
job stress among nursing staff. VGH Nursing 2007, 24(1): 59-68 (in
Chinese).
[30] Su HR: The study of job stressors and stress response of clinical nurses.
The Journal of Nursing Research 1993, 1(1): 83-93 (in Chinese).
[31] Tsai SL, Chen ML, Wang W: Factors of work stress of nurses in medical
center. VGH Nursing 1996, 13(3): 263-269 (in Chinese).
[32] Ku SF, Chiang HH, Liu YC, Yang MH: The initial study of working
pressure and adaptive behavior of nurses in caring aids patient. Chinese
Journal of Occupational Medicine 2002, 9(1): 11-19 (in Chinese).
[33] Chang HC, Chen PY, & Kuo SC: Occupational stressor's and related
factors in new nurses in a newly established hospital. Journal of Health
Management 2004, 2(1): 37-50 (in Chinese).
[34] Chang HM, Chen CH, Lan LM: A related survey of staff members-
anticipated turnover and the degree of job stress in the neonatal intensive
care unit. VGH Nursing 2005, 22(2): 139-148 (in Chinese).
[35] Bianchi ERF: Stress and coping among cardiovascular nurses: a survey in
Brazil. Issues in Mental Health Nursing 2004, 25 (7): 737-745.
[36] Brown-Baatjies O, Fouche P, Watson M, Povey, JL: The biopsychosocial
coping and adjustment of female medical professionals. South African
Journal of Psychology 2006, 36(1): 126-143..
[1] Anderson C: Past victim future victim. Nursing Management 2002, 33(3):
26-30.
[2] Yerkes RM, Dodson JD: The relation of strength of stimulus to rapidity of
habit-formation. Journal of Comparative Neurology and Psychology 1908,
18(5): 459-482.
[3] Steffy BD, Jones JW: Workplace stress and indicators of coronary-disease
risk. Academy of Management Journal 1988, 31(3): 686-698.
[4] Benoliel JQ, McCorkle R, Georgiadou F, Denton T, Spitger A:
Measurement of stress in clinical nursing. Cancer Nursing 1990, 13(4):
221-228.
[5] Siu O-L, Spector PE, Cooper CL, Lu L, Yu S: Managerial stress greater
china: the direct moderator effects of coping strategies and working locus
of control. Applied Psychology: An International Review 2002, 51(4):
608-632.
[6] Lambert, VA, Lambert CE, Petrini M, Li XM, Zhang YJ: Workplace and
personal factors associated with physical and mental health in hospital
nurses in China. Nursing & Health Sciences 2007, 9(2): 120-126.
[7] Pejic AR: Verbal abuse: a problem for pediatric nurses. Pediatric Nursing
2005, 31 (4): 271-281.
[8] Healy CM, Mckay MF: Nursing stress: the effects of coping strategies and
job satisfaction in a sample of Australian nurses. Journal of Advanced
Nursing 2000, 31(3): 681-688.
[9] Lee I: Work stress, coping strategies, and consequences among public
health nurses - based on an interactive model. Taiwan Journal of Public
Health 2004, 23(5):398-405. (in Chinese)
[10] Throckmorton T: Stressors in oncology nursing: potential sources of
absenteeism and turnover. Oncology Nursing Forum 2007, 34 (2):
544-544.
[11] Yayli G, Yaman H, Yaman A: Stress and work-life in a university hospital
in Turkey: evaluation of the brief symptom inventory and brief coping
styles inventory in hospital staff. Social Behavior and Personality 2003,
31(1): 91-100.
[12] Harris N: Management of work-related stress in nursing. Nursing
Standard 2001, 16(10): 47-52.
[13] Zhang J, Liu Y: A survey of work stress and lassitude of nurses in
operating room. Chinese Nursing Research 2005, 19 (3A): 399-402 (in
Chinese).
[14] Lambert VA, Lambert CE, Ito, M: Workplace stressors, ways of coping
and demographic characteristics as predictors of physical and mental health
of Japanese hospital nurses. International Journal of Nursing Studies 2004,
41(1): 85-97.
[15] Lee I, Wang H: Perceived occupational stress and related factors in public
health nurses. Journal of Nursing Research 2002, 10(4): 253-260.
[16] Adeb-Saeedi J: Stress amongst emergency nurses. Australian Emergency
Nursing Journal 2002, 5 (2): 19-24.
[17] Lazarus RS: Toward better research on stress and coping. American
Psychologist (2000), 55(6): 665-673.
[18] Lazarus RS, Folkman S: Transactional theory and research on emotions
and coping. European Journal of Personality 1987, 1(3): 141-169.
[19] Rodeny V: Nurse stress associated with aggression in people with
dementia: its relationship to hardness, cognitive appraisal and coping.
Journal of Advanced Nursing 2000, 31(1): 172-180.
[20] Payne N: Occupational stressors and coping as determinants of burnout in
female hospice nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing 2001, 33 (3):
396-405.
[21] Boey KW: Coping and family relationship in stress resistance: a study of
job satisfaction of nurses in Singapore. International Journal of Nursing
Studies 1998, 35 (6): 353-361.
[22] Shih FF, Chou CF: A study on job stress and coping behaviors of nurses in
drug addictive wards. The Chung Shan Medical Journal 2002, 132,
197-208 (in Chinese).
[23] Chang HC, Chen PY, Kuo SC: Occupational stressor's and related factors
in new nurses in a newly established hospital. Journal of Health
Management 2004, 2 (1): 37-50 (in Chinese).
[24] Matheny KB, Ashby JS, Cupp P: Gender differences in stress, coping, and
illness among college students. The Journal Individual Psychology 2005,
61(4): 365-379.
[25] Tsai SL, Chen ML: A test of reliability and validity of nurse stress
checklist. The Journal of Nursing Research 1996, 4(4): 355-362 (in
Chinese).
[26] Bratt MM, Broome M, Kelber S, Lostocco L: Influence of stress and
nursing leadership on job satisfaction of pediatric intensive care unit
nurses. American Journal of Critical Care 2000, 9(5): 307-317.
[27] Hsiao PC, Tang YY: A concept analysis of stress. The Journal of Nursing
2004, 51(3): 71-75 (in Chinese).
[28] Chan HM, Chen CH, Lan LM: A related survey of staff members'
anticipated turnover and the degree of job stress in neonatal intensive care
unit. VGH Nursing 2005, 22(2): 139-148 (in Chinese).
[29] Wang CL, Huang CY, Lu KY, Ho MY: A study of the social support and
job stress among nursing staff. VGH Nursing 2007, 24(1): 59-68 (in
Chinese).
[30] Su HR: The study of job stressors and stress response of clinical nurses.
The Journal of Nursing Research 1993, 1(1): 83-93 (in Chinese).
[31] Tsai SL, Chen ML, Wang W: Factors of work stress of nurses in medical
center. VGH Nursing 1996, 13(3): 263-269 (in Chinese).
[32] Ku SF, Chiang HH, Liu YC, Yang MH: The initial study of working
pressure and adaptive behavior of nurses in caring aids patient. Chinese
Journal of Occupational Medicine 2002, 9(1): 11-19 (in Chinese).
[33] Chang HC, Chen PY, & Kuo SC: Occupational stressor's and related
factors in new nurses in a newly established hospital. Journal of Health
Management 2004, 2(1): 37-50 (in Chinese).
[34] Chang HM, Chen CH, Lan LM: A related survey of staff members-
anticipated turnover and the degree of job stress in the neonatal intensive
care unit. VGH Nursing 2005, 22(2): 139-148 (in Chinese).
[35] Bianchi ERF: Stress and coping among cardiovascular nurses: a survey in
Brazil. Issues in Mental Health Nursing 2004, 25 (7): 737-745.
[36] Brown-Baatjies O, Fouche P, Watson M, Povey, JL: The biopsychosocial
coping and adjustment of female medical professionals. South African
Journal of Psychology 2006, 36(1): 126-143..
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:55217", author = "Wei-Wen Liu and Feng-Chuan Pan and Pei-Chi Wen and Sen-Ji Chen and Su-Hui Lin", title = "Job Stressors and Coping Mechanisms among Emergency Department Nurses in the Armed Force Hospitals of Taiwan", abstract = "Nurses in an Armed Force Hospital (AFH) expose to stronger stress than those in a civil hospital, especially in an emergency department (ED). Ironically, stresses of these nurses received few if any attention in academic research in the past. This study collects 227 samples from the emergency departments of four armed force hospitals in central and southern Taiwan. The research indicates that the top five stressors are a massive casualty event, delayed physician support, overloads of routine work, overloads of assignments, and annoying paper work. Excessive work loading was found to be the primary source of stress. Nurses who were perceived to have greater stress levels were more inclined to deploy emotion-oriented approaches and more likely to seek job rotations. Professional stressors and problem-oriented approaches were positively correlated. Unlike other local studies, this study concludes that the excessive work-loading is more stressful in an AFH.
", keywords = "Emergency nurse, Job stressor, Coping behavior, Armed force hospital.", volume = "4", number = "7", pages = "1665-8", }
