The experiences of stress and coping strategies of nurse managers in a private healthcare setting
Date
2016-03-14
Authors
Naik, Niyati
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Abstract
Stress has been identified as a prevalent and global occupational hazard especially within the hospital and healthcare setting. Majority of the available literature on the topic of occupational stress in healthcare workers has focused on the experiences of nurses and physicians, however little is known about the experiences of stress in nurse managers, especially those working in private hospitals in South Africa.
The aim of this research study was to describe the nurse managers’ experiences of stress, stressful situations and the coping strategies used to deal with stress. This was so that individual and organisational interventions may be planned accordingly in order for stress to be effectively managed.
This research study used a qualitative, descriptive methodology where three open ended questions with probes, were asked as part of semi structured interviews. The study setting was a private hospital in Gauteng, South Africa. The population comprised of all nurse managers who were invited to participate in the study, with the sample which totalled ten participants (n=10). The audio taped interviews were transcribe verbatim and analysed using thematic content analysis.
The sample consisted of ten, female, unit managers who identified the following five themes regarding their experience of stress and stressful situations at work: their role; staff issues; interactions with doctors; interactions with patients and relatives; and the lack of support. The participants coped with stress using four different strategies of: personal attitude and beliefs; lifestyle choices; support structures and interpersonal communication strategies.
Nurse managers have identified various contributors of stress and stressful situations at work and despite their expression of love for their work, strategies and interventions pertaining to: personal role preparation and development, clinical support for staff, administrative support and senior management support could help to relieve nurse managers’ experiences of stress and stressful situations. This needs to be considered in order to recruit, retain and develop nurses in management positions, amidst a national and international climate of nurse shortages.
Key words: Stress; Occupational stress; Nurse Managers; Private Hospital
Description
‘A Research Report submitted to the Faculty of Science,
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg,
In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science (Nursing)’
Johannesburg, 2015