Changes in health behaviours and health status of novice nurses during the first 2 years of work

Abstract

Aims To explore changes in health behaviours and health status of novice nurses during the first 2 years of work. Background Novice nurses experience many difficulties in maintaining healthy behaviours while adapting to clinical settings. However, studies about the health of novice nurses have not focused on changes over time. Design Longitudinal descriptive study with self‐reported questionnaires. Methods Data were collected from 493 novice nurses who started work between September 2014 ‐ December 2015 at a tertiary hospital in Seoul. Dietary behaviours, sleep, depressive symptoms, perceived stress and health status were measured at six time points during the first 2 years of work (the first day of orientation before ward placement, 6 weeks after starting work and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of work). Changes were examined using means or percentages and 95% confidence intervals. Results Unhealthy dietary behaviours increased across 6 months, continuing for 2 years. Sleep quality and quantity, depressive symptoms, perceived stress and health status first worsened and then improved; however, they were worse than at baseline. Conclusion Organizational support for novice nurses is urgently needed. Workplace health education programmes will help them adjust to rotating shift work and maintain better health status.

A Cross Sectional Study Evaluating Psychosocial Job Stress and Health Risk in Emergency Department Nurses

“…Most of the nurses in our study were also young (mean age 33). Research indicated critical care nurses perceive higher psychological stress during the first two years of their employment [28]. It may be assumed that more experienced nurses will effectively handle stress at work.…”

“…A strong association between working schedules of participants and psychological stress is well documented. Working long hours and night shifts were shown to affect biological rhythms, increasing health risks in employees [28,29]. Shift workers with and without night shifts more often have difficulties combining work and life than do those who only work the day shift [30,31,32].…”

A Pilot Study to Investigate the Role of Virtual Reality in the Preservice Training of Nursing Staff in Isolation Wards

“…Nurses newly sent to isolation wards were found to feel anxious and stressed if they had never been trained 30 . Studies have shown that sleep quality, depressive symptoms, and perceived stress deteriorate in the early stage of working in isolation wards due to adaptation to the new environment 31 . However, it was reported that only 50.6% of new nurses had received structured orientation training for providing safe, competent, and feasibility care 32 .…”

“… 30 Studies have shown that sleep quality, depressive symptoms, and perceived stress deteriorate in the early stage of working in isolation wards due to adaptation to the new environment. 31 However, it was reported that only 50.6% of new nurses had received structured orientation training for providing safe, competent, and feasibility care. 32 Hence, nurses need to be familiar with the special work environment in a short time (eg, isolation wards).…”

Changes in Stress, Occupational Stress, and Subjective Health Problems of Novice Female Nurses: Secondary Data Analysis

“…그러나 현재까지 신규간호사를 대상으로 한 연구는 대부분 단편 적인 것으로, 수면 장애, 우울 등 부분적인 건강문제만을 다루고 있 어 [14,17] 신규간호사의 전반적인 건강문제를 조사한 연구는 찾아 보기 힘들다. 또한 신규간호사는 업무에 적응하면서 건강의 변화가 있을 수 있으나 [18]…”