Korean J Adult Nurs.  2016 Oct;28(5):572-584. 10.7475/kjan.2016.28.5.572.

Experience of Job Stress among Nurses Working in Long-term Care Hospital: A Phenomenological Approach

• Kim HJ
• Kim HY

• KMID: 2358730
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2016.28.5.572

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to explore the subjective experience of job stress among nurses working in long-term care hospitals.
METHODS
A phenomenological approach was used for the study. Data were collected from May to June, 2016 using open-ended questions during in-depth interviews. Participants were nurses working in long-term care hospitals and had reported experiences of stress. Six nurses participated in this study.
RESULTS
Six themes emerged from the analysis using Colaizzi's method: (a) Heavy workload and responsibility due to nurse shortage, (b) Getting exhausted by caring for cognitively impaired patients, (c) Feeling pressure due to conflict with patients' family, (d) compassion for patients who are getting worse, (e) Low value in being a long-term hospital nurse, and (f) Efforts to overcome stress.
CONCLUSION
Sufficient labor supply, environmental improvements, program for improving interpersonal skills, education and counseling on end-of-life care, and recognition improvement about long term hospital are suggested to reduce the job stress of long-term hospital nurses.

MeSH Terms

Counseling
Education
Empathy
Humans
Long-Term Care*
Methods
Social Skills

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