Why is nursing stressful? - Reasons Nurses Are Under Stress

Why is nursing stressful? - Reasons Nurses Are Under Stress

As a nurse, people count on you. That's why it's important for you to take care of yourself in order to take care of others - your patients, family, and friends. Workplace stress can derail your best efforts. It affects your ability to function at work and to enjoy your life outside of work.

What do nurses find most stressful about their profession?

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, studies have commonly linked these 11 factors to stress in nurses:

1. Overload of work,

2. Time pressure,

3. Lack of social support,

4. Exposure to infectious diseases,

5. Needlestick injuries,

6. Experiencing work-related violence or intimidation,

7. Lack of sleep,

8. Ambiguity and conflict in the role,

9. Less staff,

10. Lack of career development options,

11. Dealing with acutely or critically ill 

A dysfunctional organizational environment—conflict among co-workers and friction between management and staff—can cause nurses to feel unsupported, leading to more workplace stress. On the other hand, nurses may thrive at work but suffer from the conflicting demands of home and family on their time and energy.

Thankfully, many healthcare organizations promote employee wellness, often emphasizing prevention versus patch-up repair. They want their nurses to be engaged, excited, and involved. Check to see if an employee assistance, wellness, or stress reduction program is available to you. (They are often free, or at least, at a low cost.) Or, if you want to access help on an informal basis, reach out to your coworkers and fellow members of professional nursing organizations for help. 

Do you agree with this list of top stressors? So, what kind of stress do you face in your work? What coping methods have you found to be most effective?

Give us a shout - we'd love to hear your thoughts on stress in the nursing profession.