RESUMEN
The objective of this study was to examine the construct validity and reliability of the Nursing Stress Indicator (NSI) and to identify differences between occupational stressors of professional and enrolled nurses. A cross-sectional survey design was used. A sample of professional nurses (N = 980) and enrolled and auxiliary nurses (N = 800) in South Africa was used. The NSI was developed as measuring instrument and administrated together with a biographical questionnaire. Five reliable stress factors, namely Patient Care, Job Demands, Lack of Support, Staff Issues, and Overtime were extracted. The most severe stressors for nurses included health risks posed by contact with patients, lack of recognition and insufficient staff. Watching patients suffer, demands of patients and staff issues were also severe stressors for professional nurses. The severity of stressors was higher for professional nurses (compared with enrolled and auxiliary nurses). Organisations that employ nurses should implement programmes to monitor and manage stress, specifically regarding staff issues and job demands.
Asunto(s)
Personal de Enfermería/psicología , Enfermedades Profesionales/diagnóstico , Pruebas Psicológicas , Estrés Psicológico/diagnóstico , Estudios Transversales , Análisis Factorial , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Enfermeras y Enfermeros/psicología , Asistentes de Enfermería/psicología , Enfermedades Profesionales/psicología , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Sudáfrica , Estrés Psicológico/psicologíaRESUMEN
The priority of the National Health System in South Africa is primary health care (PHC). The approach involves a health system led by PHC services and includes personal and curative services for acute minor ailments delivered by PHC nurses. The nurses are also responsible for the treatment of these ailments with essential drugs according to protocols as proposed in the Essential Drugs List. A before-after experimental research design was used to evaluate the effect of a competency-based primary care drug therapy (PCDT) training programme for PHC nurses in the treatment of acute minor ailments. An experimental group (n = 35) and control group (n = 31) consisting of registered nurses undergoing training in PHC at Gold Fields Nursing College were randomly selected. The results showed a significant increase in prescribing outcomes and medicine utilisation.