Prevalence of Stress and Coping Mechanism Among Staff Nurses of Intensive Care Unit in a Selected Hospital

Background: Nursing is a highly stressful occupation, and nurses have job-related stressors. There are limited data regarding stress among nurses of intensive care unit in Bangladeshi hospitals. Objective: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of stress among staff nurses working in ICU and factors influencing stress in the past 12 months. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among 50 Staff Nurse of intensive care unit in Square Hospital Ltd. from 1st September, 2012 to 30th January, 2013. Data were collected by face to face interview using semi-structured questionnaire. Results: Majority of nurses (90%) had experienced stress. Most of nurses (72%) had experienced back pain as physical stress. Majority of nurses (64%) had experienced boredom as psychological stress. Most of nurses (62%) had experienced common mistakes or errors during work. 74% nurses used prayers and 88% nurses used sharing problems with others in coping stress. Majority (86%) of nurses were having diploma in nursing. Most of nurses (68%) had been working experience of more than three years. 100% nurses feel much stressed when one nurse give care to the more than one patient. There is no association between stress and work stressors (work experiences, ratio of nurse to patient, working relationship with doctors, and working relationship with nurse manager). Conclusion: High stressful among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses in Square Hospital Ltd. had been identified and impact on the health and well-being of critical care nurses due to stress. Large scales should be conducted for study.