NEED FOR PROVISION OF PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES TO NURSES WORKING IN EMERGENCY SECTIONS OF GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS

Abstract

Nursing is a one of the highly stressful occupation.1
High levels of occupational stress are believed to
affect the physical and mental health of nurses.
Constantly working in the emergency departments,
nurses show higher level of psychological distress,
burnout and are more prone to develop psychiatric
problems.2 These psychiatric problems are
commonly manifested in the form of anger, tension,
uptightness, low mood, exhaustion, and avoidance
symptoms. In a comparative study, it was found that
nurses working in emergency wards have a higher
stress level compared to the control sample.3 They
face greater work pressure and worse health
responsibility and realisation of a health-promoting
lifestyle. In addition, working in an inpatient
department appears to be a potent stressor for
nurses.4 It is also evident that nurses working
morning shifts showed higher stress levels, and poor
sleep quality as stress level is directly correlated to
sleep.5 Although all nurses undergo the stressful
situation, the younger nurses had more nursing
stress than older nurses.6
Although psychosocial health issues of
nurses and its intervention has been studied
extensively in the US and Europe, there is a need to
explore these factors from the Pakistani perspective.
This editorial is aimed to raise the interest on the
psychosocial problems of the nurses working in the
emergency units of government hospitals.
Occupational stress among nurses is the result of
exposure to a combination of working environment
and personal factors. For example, role boundary
and role insufficiency were the factors that had the
highest association with occupational stress.7 High
rates of emotional exhaustion in nurses were found
to be predicted by young age, high psychological
job demands, low psychological job control, low
social support at the workplace, and job strain.8
It is recommended to conduct researches to
identify organizational, family or social factors
which contribute to reduction of perceived
occupational stress and increase job satisfaction and
job performance among the nurses and specifically
those who work in the emergency units of the
hospitals. For intervention, occupational training
programmes and occupational health education is
necessary to improve the knowledge and ability of
nurses to cope with job demands and reduce
occupational stress.7
Cognitive-behavioural stress management
training program on stress reduction among nurses
are quite effective.1 In addition, psychological
assessment can be helpful for identification of the
problems. On the basis of assessment, individual
counselling sessions can be provided to those who
have psychological problems, are more vulnerable
and/or at risk. Moreover, Workshops and seminars
on the issues like, work motivation, anger
management, personal management, and
communication skills can be helpful for the nurses.
Nurses' realisation of a health-promoting lifestyle9
can be achieved through good relationships and
appropriately increase employment of nurses
through a good work atmosphere in hospitals. These
strategies will have implications and the long term
effects. It will have not only the positive effect on
the nurses, but also it will improve the nurse-patient
relationship. Ultimately, overall performance of the
organization will be enhanced