Background Nursing is widely known as a stressful profession but intensive care unit is the most stressful; when nurses fail to cope with workplace, stresses’ complications such as burnout and depression ensue, and this can compromise the quality of nursing care. In Rwanda, there is a limited literature about workplace stress and coping strategies. Research objectives To assess the workplace stress and coping strategies of intensive care unit nurses at University Teaching Hospitals. Methodology This study used a cross-sectional study design, recruited 92 ICU nurses through the census sampling method; ENSS and Brief COPE Inventory, while SPSS was used for data analysis.  Results Eighty percent experienced moderate to high stress, while 19.6% had low stress. Married nurses tend to experience high stress than singles, while those with Bachelors or Master’s degree were less likely to be stressed. Main stressors are care for suffering/dying, or agitated patients; and heavy workload, while main coping strategies were alcohol use, emotion support from friends and religion comfort. Conclusions Nurses experience workplace stress, while workplace stressors are nursing care for suffering/dying or agitated patients and heavy workload. The coping strategies were alcohol use, emotional support and comfort from religion. Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2021;4(1):53-71

BackgroundThe spinal induced severe hypotension is frequently reported during cesarean section; the literature counts 70% of severe hypotension following spinal anesthesia for cesarean section. This complication is thought to be serious and even fatal, when not well managed; however, in Rwanda, we have a limited data about that spinal induced life-threatening complication. ObjectivesTo determine the incidence and factors associated with spinal anesthesia induced severe hypotension during caesarian section at Muhima hospital.MethodologyThe study was cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical in design. The study population was the pregnant women scheduled for cesarean section, and a sample size of 108 was used. A self-developed questionnaire was used as data collection tool. ResultsForty percent of participants’ experienced spinal anesthesia induced severe hypotension; while preloading, left tilt position and infusion of ephedrine, were associated with lower incidence of severe hypotension.ConclusionThe incidence of spinal induced severe hypotension is high, however, preloading; left lateral position and co-infusion of ephedrine were found to protect the participants from spinal induced severe hypotension. Therefore, these techniques should be promoted. Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2022;5(1):62-70