The nursing profession is considered a stressful occupation with aggressive patient management, massive workloads, shift work, and high turnover rates. The situation in Australian nursing has been studied comprehensively, although the understanding of stress and resilience is ambiguous. This literature review considers the impact of stressors and coping strategies in Australian nurses.
The aim of this paper is to investigate contemporary and substantial evidence of stress factors, considering the possible coping strategies and its effectiveness in Australian nurses. Therefore, a literature search was conducted in four databases, and a total of six relevant articles were found. The studies identify stress factors and coping strategies in the Australian nursing population.
Table of Contents
1. Background
2. Implications of Stress
3. Search Strategy
4. Literature Overview
4.1 Patient Death as a Stress Factor
4.2 Patient Aggression as a Stress Factor
4.3 Multifactorial Stress
4.4 Mindfulness as a Resilience
4.5 Social Support as a Resilience
4.6 Emotional Distance as a Resilience
5. Discussion
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
The primary aim of this literature review is to investigate contemporary and substantial evidence regarding stress factors faced by Australian nurses and to evaluate the effectiveness of various coping strategies implemented within the profession.
- Identification of key occupational stress factors in Australian nursing.
- Evaluation of resilience and coping mechanisms such as mindfulness and social support.
- Analysis of the impact of environmental and interpersonal stressors.
- Investigation into the relationship between stress, patient care, and staff turnover.
- Examination of professional development needs for nursing stress management.
Excerpt from the Book
Patient Death as a Stress Factor
Bloomer, Endacott, O’Connor, and Cross (2013) conducted a qualitative study of two acute medical wards in Melbourne, excluding critical and palliative care. In this study, 25 nurses were included with 20 incidents of death, aiming to identify nurses’ response to dying patients. Originally, the researcher observed acute care wards utilising a “clinician’s eye” (Bloomer, Cross, Endacott, Connor, & Moss, 2012, p. 25). Nurse unit managers individually and other nurses in groups were interviewed. Study samples showcased different levels of discomfort, displaying that they were under-prepared to manage the stress levels with dying patients. However, the study was limited to certain focus groups, and additionally, non-permanent staff were involved.
Summary of Chapters
Background: This section introduces the prevalence of stress in the nursing profession, highlighting factors like massive workloads and shift work while establishing the need for effective intervention strategies.
Implications of Stress: This chapter details the physiological and psychological impacts of moral distress and environmental stressors, linking them to nursing turnover rates and general workforce welfare.
Search Strategy: This section describes the methodological approach used to source and filter relevant literature from databases like ProQuest and MEDLINE to ensure high-quality evidence.
Literature Overview: This central section reviews specific stressors—such as patient death, aggression, and multifactorial issues—and examines resilience strategies including mindfulness, social support, and emotional distance.
Discussion: This chapter synthesizes the findings, noting a reliance on qualitative data, a need for more comprehensive research in specific areas like non-work related stressors, and the importance of tailored training.
Conclusion: The final section summarizes the main findings and provides recommendations for future research, particularly focusing on quantitative studies with larger samples and specialized palliative care education.
Keywords
Australian nursing, Occupational stress, Resilience, Coping strategies, Mindfulness, Social support, Emotional distance, Patient aggression, End-of-life care, Moral distress, Turnover, Workload, Mental health, Professional training, Nursing students.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this literature review?
This work explores the prevalence of stress among Australian nurses and identifies the contemporary stressors they face in various healthcare settings.
What are the central themes discussed in the paper?
The paper focuses on identifying major stress triggers, such as patient death and workplace aggression, and discusses how nurses utilize resilience mechanisms to cope with these challenges.
What is the main research goal?
The primary goal is to collate evidence on nursing stress factors and evaluate the effectiveness of different coping strategies currently employed in the Australian nursing workforce.
Which methodology was utilized for this review?
The author conducted a systematic search across four major databases (ProQuest Central, ProQuest Psychology Journals, MEDLINE, and Scopus) to select six highly relevant articles for deep analysis.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body examines the specific impacts of stress, reviews existing literature on clinical stressors, and evaluates resilience-building techniques like mindfulness and social assistance.
How can the work be summarized via keywords?
The work is defined by terms such as Australian nursing, occupational stress, resilience, coping strategies, and professional turnover.
Does the author suggest that emotional distance is always a negative coping mechanism?
No, the review indicates that while some argue it may lead to patient care issues, others identify emotional distance as a valid resilience strategy for managing emotional regulation in difficult clinical environments.
Why is the lack of research on undergraduate students highlighted?
The review identifies a gap in research regarding the resilience of nursing students, noting that early career support and training are vital to prevent premature exit from the profession.
- Quote paper
- Kushan Magedara (Author), 2017, Stress and Resilience in Australian Nursing Practice, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/421185
