Stress among Brazilian nurses who work at emergency department

The nursing is considered as stressed work due to treating sick people and improvable situations as in Emergency Department (ED). The goal of this study is to search stressors among Brazilian nurses who work at ED. The sample was constituted by 143 nurses who work at high complexity hospitals. Data was obtained using a “Bianchi Stress Inventory” that enclosed socio-demographic data and 51 activities developed by nurses. Statistical analyses was descriptive and inferential using ANOVA. In order to compare data, there was used a score of stress and classified into six areas: relationship(A), unit functioning(B), staff administration(C), nursing assistance(D), unit coordination(E) and work conditions(F). The stress level was determined as low (under 3,0), medium (from 3,1 to 5,9) and high (above 6,0). The sample was feminine (90,9%); young (71,1% under 40 years old); from 2 to 5 years after finishing of undergraduate course; has worked at ED for 36 months as staff nurse (82,5%), concluded graduate course latu sense (73,2%) and 46,2% work in Southeast States. The individual score of nurses varied from 3,1 to 5,9 considered medium level. The stress score among states, in decrescent order, was: Southeast > Northeast> South> Center-West> North.  After analyzing the six areas, the classification was: F>C>E>D>B>A and was independent of geographical localization. The “management” nurses were more stressed than the others and the result was statistically significant (p<0,05) and increased with the period after finished undergraduation. The consequences of those results are that the hospital has the responsibility to offer work conditions for nurses and, on the other hand, nurses must know their stress reaction and stressors and improve the use of coping strategies, to diminish personal and professional interferences.

Key words:  Stress, nursing, emergency department, nurses job.