Effects of Stress on Work Performance and the Coping Strategies Among Nurses Working at General Hospital Ilorin (Published)
Stress, a psychological concept, can negatively impact health, well-being, and job performance if not effectively managed. Nurses worldwide face significant occupational stress due to the diversity and volume of patients they encounter. This study aimed to investigate the sources and effects of stress on work performance among nurses at General Hospital Ilorin and the coping strategies they employ. A descriptive survey method was utilised, gathering data from 126 nurses using stratified proportionate and clustered sampling techniques. A 48-item questionnaire covering demographics, sources and effects of stress, and coping strategies was validated with a Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of 0.88. Data analysis involved frequency counts, percentages, and mean statistics, with two hypotheses tested using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a significance level of P < 0.05. The findings revealed no significant differences in stress types based on nurses’ ages, genders, or ranks. However, nurses were aware of prevalent stress sources, such as conflicts with others and work overload, which significantly affected their health and work performance. Although coping strategies varied, they were not statistically different among nurses. The study recommends that General Hospital management organise seminars and workshops on stress management, conduct periodic stress assessments, and encourage senior nurses to mentor younger colleagues. Additionally, the inclusion of counselors is suggested to assist nurses in managing stress effectively, ultimately improving their job performance.
Keywords: Nurses, coping strategies. work performance, occupational Stress
Nurses Role in Spiritual Care Towards Reduction of Psychological Trauma in Terminal Illness: Literature Review (Published)
Terminal illness is one of the most devastating moments of a person’s s life. Nurses witness the psychological trauma associated with terminal illness first hand and are in the position to ensure that patients receive spiritual care during this period of emotional up heave. Spiritual care and support have been shown to result in greater longevity, improved coping skills and increased hope, leading to a reduction in psychological trauma. The aim of this research is to review past literature to enable the understanding of the nurse’s role in spiritual care towards reduction of psychological trauma in terminal illness. The study utilized literature review of web-based articles and journals using multiple databases. Following the literature search, eight articles met the inclusion criteria and were selected. The result was summarized in two main categories, nurses’ role in spiritual care, and nurses’ role in the use of spiritual care towards reduction of psychological trauma in terminal illness. The study concluded that for effectiveness of spiritual care towards reduction of psychological trauma, the nurse must be knowledgeable and understand her role in administering spiritual care. As spiritual care helps the patient connect to the world, in the mist of hopelessness, which enhances feeling of sense of purpose and reduces caregiver stress.
Keywords: Nurses, Trauma, psychological trauma, spiritual care, terminal illness