Exploring the sources of stress among operating theatre nurses in a Ghanaian teaching hospital
Background: The nursing profession is heavily plagued with occupational stress. The stress nurses encounter in the clinical setting can result in physical, emotional, social and spiritual changes. In the operating theatre, nurses assist surgeons during surgery, observe the overall condition of patie...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221413912300015X |
| _version_ | 1797804583174537216 |
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| author | Vera Asimah Ackah Atswei Adzo Kwashie |
| author_facet | Vera Asimah Ackah Atswei Adzo Kwashie |
| author_sort | Vera Asimah Ackah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The nursing profession is heavily plagued with occupational stress. The stress nurses encounter in the clinical setting can result in physical, emotional, social and spiritual changes. In the operating theatre, nurses assist surgeons during surgery, observe the overall condition of patients and care for those at risk of developing a critical condition during surgery to prevent any complications from arising. An operating theatre work milieu is problematic in terms of patient safety and is closely associated with elevated stress. Aim: This study sought to explore events from outside and within the operating theatres of a teaching hospital in Ghana causing stress in the nurses. Methods: A sample of 12 operating theatre nurses was drawn from the Teaching Hospital using a purposive sampling technique. Data was collected using a semi-structured interview guide and the study employed a descriptive qualitative approach. Analysis of data was carried out using thematic content analysis. Results: The study has shown that operating theatre nurses are faced with various stressors from time-to-time and the commonest and the most worrying are those related to their work. The major sources of stress such as work overload, staff shortage, and inadequate equipment and supplies to this group of professionals have been identified. Staff shortage, specifically operating theatre nurses has led to the nurses perceiving their workload as overwhelming. Conclusion: In the operating theatre, nurses assist surgeons during surgery, observe the overall condition of patients and care for those at risk of developing a critical condition during surgery to prevent any complications from arising. These put operating theatre nurses at risk of occupational stress. Therefore, there is the need to help create a more conducive environment for all operating theatre nurses to enhance their performances. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:39:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4467bbaa534142469819211224b25dd6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-1391 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:39:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-4467bbaa534142469819211224b25dd62023-06-14T04:33:13ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences2214-13912023-01-0118100540Exploring the sources of stress among operating theatre nurses in a Ghanaian teaching hospitalVera Asimah Ackah0Atswei Adzo Kwashie1Schoolof Perioperative and Critical Care Nursing, Korle-Bu, Ghana; Corresponding author at: School of Perioperative and Critical Care Nursing, P. O. Box KB 96, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana.Schoolof Nursing and Midwifery, University of Ghana, Legon, GhanaBackground: The nursing profession is heavily plagued with occupational stress. The stress nurses encounter in the clinical setting can result in physical, emotional, social and spiritual changes. In the operating theatre, nurses assist surgeons during surgery, observe the overall condition of patients and care for those at risk of developing a critical condition during surgery to prevent any complications from arising. An operating theatre work milieu is problematic in terms of patient safety and is closely associated with elevated stress. Aim: This study sought to explore events from outside and within the operating theatres of a teaching hospital in Ghana causing stress in the nurses. Methods: A sample of 12 operating theatre nurses was drawn from the Teaching Hospital using a purposive sampling technique. Data was collected using a semi-structured interview guide and the study employed a descriptive qualitative approach. Analysis of data was carried out using thematic content analysis. Results: The study has shown that operating theatre nurses are faced with various stressors from time-to-time and the commonest and the most worrying are those related to their work. The major sources of stress such as work overload, staff shortage, and inadequate equipment and supplies to this group of professionals have been identified. Staff shortage, specifically operating theatre nurses has led to the nurses perceiving their workload as overwhelming. Conclusion: In the operating theatre, nurses assist surgeons during surgery, observe the overall condition of patients and care for those at risk of developing a critical condition during surgery to prevent any complications from arising. These put operating theatre nurses at risk of occupational stress. Therefore, there is the need to help create a more conducive environment for all operating theatre nurses to enhance their performances.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221413912300015XOperating roomTheatre nursesPerioperative nursesStressSources of stressGhana |
| spellingShingle | Vera Asimah Ackah Atswei Adzo Kwashie Exploring the sources of stress among operating theatre nurses in a Ghanaian teaching hospital International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences Operating room Theatre nurses Perioperative nurses Stress Sources of stress Ghana |
| title | Exploring the sources of stress among operating theatre nurses in a Ghanaian teaching hospital |
| title_full | Exploring the sources of stress among operating theatre nurses in a Ghanaian teaching hospital |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the sources of stress among operating theatre nurses in a Ghanaian teaching hospital |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the sources of stress among operating theatre nurses in a Ghanaian teaching hospital |
| title_short | Exploring the sources of stress among operating theatre nurses in a Ghanaian teaching hospital |
| title_sort | exploring the sources of stress among operating theatre nurses in a ghanaian teaching hospital |
| topic | Operating room Theatre nurses Perioperative nurses Stress Sources of stress Ghana |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221413912300015X |
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