Stressors in work environments and related factors among nurses: A cross-sectional study

Stressors in the workplace are a significant concern for nurses worldwide. Nursing is one of the most stressful occupations due to the numerous and varied risk factors associated with the work environment. Nurses performing physically demanding tasks face a higher incidence of violent acts from patients and their attendants, as frequent interactions increase the likelihood of such incidents. To identify stressors in the work environment among nurses at a selected hospital in Barisal. Using a convenient sampling technique, a cross-sectional study was conducted with 103 nurses at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, Barisal. The study employed a previously validated 21-item questionnaire with nine subscales derived from the condensed Nurses’ Occupational Stressor Scale (NOSS), developed by a Chinese expert panel, to measure occupational stress levels. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 with descriptive and inferential statistics. The average stressor score for nurses’ work environments was (3.61 standard deviation=0.15), indicating significant work setting challenges. Statistical analysis revealed that monthly family income, years of working experience, and specific work area were significantly associated with nurses’ stressors (P<0.05). The study highlights the critical role of occupational characteristics in influencing stress levels among nurses. The findings can serve as a foundation for researchers and policymakers to develop targeted interventions and preventative strategies to alleviate occupational stress in nursing.