Self-reported stress and its effects on nurses

AIM: The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between job satisfaction and self-reported stress levels among nurses working in a children's hospital in Belfast. The secondary aim was to identify the main causes of stress. METHOD: The study was descriptive and analytical. A random sample of 72 nurses completed the Nurse Stress Index questionnaire. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The respondents' stress scores were correlated with job satisfaction scores using bivariate correlation and multivariate linear regression. RESULTS: The results of the bivariate analysis showed that a negative relationship existed between the subscales of the NSI and job satisfaction--as stress levels rise, job satisfaction falls. The multivariate analysis revealed that the only significant contribution to job satisfaction scores was stress resulting from a perceived lack of organisational support and involvement. The top scoring variables from each subscale were ranked to reveal the six main causes of stress for the sample. CONCLUSION: Job satisfaction is negatively affected by stress. The main sources of stress were job context variables, such as shortage of resources, time, management's lack of appreciation and initiating change.