Knowledge on stress and coping strategies of nurses in government hospitals of Capiz

Abstract

Considering the inevitability of stress in the workplace, it is imperative that nurses be equipped with proper knowledge and coping strategies to maintain quality service and ensure good patient outcomes. In view of the literature gap on this matter, particularly among nurses in Capiz province, this study was conducted. A descriptive-correlational method was employed to determine the characteristics, knowledge on stress and coping strategies among staff nurses. It also determined the presence and degree of relationship between and among the variables. An adapted questionnaire was self-administered among 150 staff nurses who were identified through stratified random sampling among the three government hospitals of Capiz. Collected data were statistically analyzed using frequency counts by mean and percentage, as well as Chi-Square and Gamma tests with significance set at 0.05 level. The nurses of the government hospitals of Capiz were mostly young adult females, single with a higher proportion working in special areas namely ER, OR/DR. They had a short tenure and have not attended seminars or trainings on stress management. Their knowledge of stress was average while their coping strategies were adaptive. Among the characteristics of the nurses, the only areas of assignment and attendance in seminars/trainings were found to have a significant relationship with their knowledge on stress in favor of OPD nurses and those who have attended seminars/trainings. Further, only age and length of service were significantly related to their coping strategies in favor of younger nurses and those with short tenure. Their knowledge of stress had a significant relationship with their coping strategies. The study has strong implications toward the Nursing Service and Hospital Administrators for enhancing nursing knowledge on stress and its management through seminars and trainings with emphasis on ward nurses as well as the older and longer-tenured ones.