Stress: Concepts, Theoretical Models and Nursing Interventions

Stress is a fact of everyday life and it can be defined either as a reaction or as a stimulus. Over the years and with the progress of science many factors have been identified as sources of stress, such as Biological, Chemicals, Microbial, Psychological, Developmental, Socio-cultural and Environmental. Propose of this study is to present the basic concepts and the main theoretical models of stress, its effects on the individual, the coping strategies and the nursing methods of addressing it. The main theoretical approaches for stress are interpreting it differently, either as a stimulus, as a response or as a transaction. Nurses, after the recognition of patients’ needs and reactions, should choose those interventions that will be the most effective for each particular patient. Most important interventions for alleviating stress are: anxiety reduction, anger management, relaxation and sleep, proper diet, physical exercise, relaxation techniques and effective time management.