Occupational Stressors And Coping Strategies Of Nurses In Tertiary Hospitals In Enugu State – Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to determine the Occupational Stressors and Coping

strategies of nurses in Tertiary Hospitals in Enugu State. The study sought answers

to four research objectives and tested seven hypotheses. The population of study

consisted of four hundred and twenty-two nurses in tertiary hospitals in Enugu state.

They were sampled using stratified proportionate and clustered sampling techniques.

Fifty eight (68) question items questionnaire (demographics variables, level of

stress questions and Ways of Coping Questionnaire ) was the instrument used for

the data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts and two personnel

managers and Cronbach alpha Reliability coefficient was used to determine the

internal consistency of the instrument. The instrument yielded a reliability

coefficient of 0.88 and 0.85 respectively. Frequency counts, percentages, mean

statistics and standard deviations were used to answer the research objectives while

seven hypotheses were tested using t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 0.05

level of significance. The major findings of the study showed that almost all the

respondents were females (92.25%), a greater percentage (85.75%) were married,

also majority (95%) had no training on occupational stress management. The level

of stress experienced by nurses across the four hospitals are the same with work

environment as the greatest stressor. The most used strategy by respondents in the 4

hospitals was planful problem solving and problem focused coping while the least

used strategy was the escape-avoidance. There is significant difference in the use of

coping strategies (EFC and PFC) across the 4 hospitals. Respondents from ESUT

Teaching Hospital differed from respondents in the other hospitals in the use of

EFC, while respondents from NOHE differed from others in the use of PFC. The use

of EFC depends on the respondents’ educational status. The use of coping strategies

(PFC and EFC) is same for both the married and single. There is no significant

difference in the use of coping strategies (PFC and EFC) by the respondents across

their ages and their years of working experience. Use of EFC is same across the

professional ranks while the use of PFC varies across the ranks. Respondents in the

rank of ADNs showed the most use of the 2 coping strategies (PFC and EFC) while

NO1 showed the least use of EFC and PFC. The study has implication for the

nurses, nurse administrators and hospital managers. Work environment should be

maintained in such a way that it will be conducive for the nurses to perform their

jobs. Nurses should aspire to acquire higher degrees in nursing. Periodic assessment

of nurses stress levels should be done and actions put in to reduce, alleviate or aid

coping among nurses. Senior nurse should coach younger ones on better ways of coping with stress.