Nad Priscilla. Job stress work characteristics and social support of nurses at Port Moresby General Hospital Papua New Guinea. Master's Degree(Primary Health Care Management). Mahidol University. Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center. : Mahidol University, 2009.
Job stress work characteristics and social support of nurses at Port Moresby General Hospital Papua New Guinea
Abstract:
A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among Papua New
Guinean nurses at Port Moresby General Hospital in the National Capital District of
Papua New Guinea. The aim was to describe the patterns of job stress (acute &
chronic) and their levels of severity as well as detail work characteristics and social
support. A total of 161 self-administered questionnaires was obtained from nurses
during the month of January, 2009.
Descriptive statistics were employed to describe the independent variables
and the outcome under study. Most of nurses were married and had three to five
children, earned between 69 to 274 US dollars per 2 weeks and lived in places easily
accessible by hospital transport services. Half of them experienced acute and chronic
stress at moderate levels. A study of the social support rendered by three sources (the
nursing supervisor, family and colleagues) revealed that a moderate level of support
for the nurses was provided by family, spouses and friends.
The family, relatives and friends made work life easier for the nurses and
they were the easiest support people to talk to. The nursing supervisors were the ones
who could be relied upon when the job got tough but family members were always
available to listen to the nurses personal problems.
When considering work characteristics, there were more registered nursing
officers as compared to practical nurses. The mean number of years worked was 17
and ranged from 1 to 40. Most of them were permanent staff on government payroll
and they worked an 8-hour shift. In a week, working hours for the nurses ranged from
40 to 59 hours. Job satisfaction and conflict at work were at moderate levels.
Policymakers and hospital managers must consider stress reduction
programs and facilitate their introduction into nursing colleges to prepare nurses to
work in a complex and demanding work environment where job stress is imminent.
Mahidol University. Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center