Occupational stressors, burnout and coping strategies between hospital and community psychiatric nurses in a Dublin region

Abstract

Burnout negatively impacts the delivery of mental health services. Psychiatric nurses face stressors that are distinct from other nursing specialities. The research was conducted in Ireland and captured a relatively large sample of respondents. The results compared the stressors, coping strategies and burnout levels between hospital and community-based psychiatric nurses. Occupational stress can negatively impact on the well-being of psychiatric nurses, which in turn can lead to poor client care. There is a dearth of published research conducted in Ireland that examines stress within the discipline. A between-groups study, undertaken in February 2011, investigated stressors, burnout and coping strategies between hospital and community-based psychiatric nurses in a Dublin region. Sixty-nine participants (8 males and 61 females), aged between 18 to 60 years voluntarily completed the Mental Health Professional Stress Scale, the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the PsychNurse Methods of Coping Scale. The findings revealed that nurses were operating in a moderately stressful environment. Stressors focused on organizational issues as opposed to client issues. The main stressors identified were lack of resources, workload and organizational structures/processes. Both groups reported average levels of emotional exhaustion, low levels of depersonalization and average levels of personal accomplishment. A Mann-Whitney U-test and Independent Samples t-test found significant differences between hospital and community-based nurses regarding depersonalization and personal accomplishment, respectively. Hospital nurses reported higher depersonalization scores, and community nurses had a greater sense of personal accomplishment. The personal accomplishment scores of hospital nurses were below mental health professional norms. No significant differences emerged regarding coping strategies. Avoidant coping strategies were favoured by both groups. It is recommended that interventions aimed at increasing personal accomplishment be implemented for both groups of nurses. An investigation of perceived job control and the use of social support would also be insightful.

Processo de trabalho e seu impacto nos profissionais de enfermagem em serviço de saúde mental

“…Both groups showed average levels of emotional burnout, low levels of depersonalization, and average levels of personal fulfillment. (5) The work overload generates dissatisfaction with work and the profession, and may lead nursing professionals to think of changing jobs or even professional activity. (4) There is evidence that this occurs more frequently with nurses working in hospital environments.…”

“…A study showed that professionals working in hospitals had higher scores of depersonalization and nurses working in community services had a greater sense of personal fulfillment. (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12) The exposure to conflict situations and living with violence in the workplace can contribute to the psychological burden on nursing professionals. A protective measure against the violence of patients can be implemented by the service management with appropriate therapeutic support.…”

“…However, only five of them dealt with the phenomenon experienced in mental health services. (3,(4)(5)(6)(7)(8) Thus, the guiding question in this study was about the overload to which nursing professionals are exposed in a community mental health service, in order to reflect on the work process and its impacts, and the individual and institutional strategies that can minimize these impacts.…”

Work Loads Of Nursing Professionals In Hospital Services For Mental Health

“…Research [13] conducted with 69 psychiatric nurses working in a hospital service to the Irish community revealed that the main causes of burnout were lack of resources, workload and organizational/process structures.…”

Work Stress, Coping Strategies and Levels of Depression among Nurses Working in Mental Health Hospital in Port-Said City

“…Moreover, McTiernan and McDonald [56] indicated that psychiatric nurses employ diverting attention and positive attitudes toward work strategies in coping with their daily work stressors. Also, Gholamzadeh, Sharif, and Dehghan Rad [57] reported that most nurses are trying to gain adaptation with their work tensions by believing in and feeling good about themselves; increasing knowledge and experience and relying on their abilities.…”