Occupational stress in the Australian nursing workforce: a comparison between hospital‑based nurses and nurses working in very remote communities
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Keywords
hospital-based nursing, remote area nursing, occupational stress, job demands-resources model, psychological distress, emotional exhaustion, work engagment, job satisfaction
Abstract
Objective: To compare workplace conditions and levels of occupational stress in two samples of Australian nurses.
Design: The research adopted a cross‑sectional design, using a structured questionnaire.
Setting: Health centres in very remote Australia and three major Australian hospitals.
Subjects: 349 nurses working in very remote Australia and 277 nurses working in three major hospitals in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome measures were psychological distress (assessed using the General Health Questionnaire‑12), emotional exhaustion (assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory), work engagement (assessed using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale‑9) and job satisfaction (assessed using a single item measure based on previous relevant research).
Results: Results revealed that nurses working in major Australian hospitals reported higher levels of psychological distress and emotional exhaustion than nurses working very remotely. However, both groups report relatively high levels of stress. Nurses working very remotely demonstrated higher levels of work engagement and job satisfaction. There are common job demands and resources associated with outcome measures for both nurses working very remotely and nurses working in major hospitals.
Conclusion: This research has implications for workplace interventions and the retention of staff in both hospitals and remote area health care facilities.
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Manuscripts accepted for publication become the property of the AJAN.
Ms Tessa Opie B. Psych (Hons.)
PhD Candidate, Centre for Applied Psychological Research, University of South Australia, Magill Campus, Magill South Australia. [email protected]
Ms Sue Lenthall RN, B. Ad Teach, MPH&TM
Project Manager, Back from the Edge Study.
Professor John Wakerman MBBS, MTH, FAFPHM, SACRRM
Director, Centre for Remote Health, A Joint Centre of Flinders University and Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia.
Professor Maureen Dollard PhD
Director, Centre for Applied Psychological Research, University of South Australia
Professor Martha MacLeod RN, BA, MA, PhD
Chair, School of Nursing, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.
Associate Professor Sabina Knight RN, MTH
Remote Health Practice, Centre for Remote Health, A Joint Centre of Flinders University and Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia.
Mr Greg Rickard RN, PhD
Principal Nursing Advisor, Northern Territory, Australia.
Professor Sandra Dunn RN, ADN, BN, MScN, PhD, FRCNA
Director, Graduate School for Health Practice, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.