Workshop intervention approach to nursing stress management

Abstract

This research project presented a total of six twelve-hour stress management workshops to twenty-eight female registered nurses. They were recruited from general hospitals, medical offices, and nursing homes. Topics included identifying environmental stressors and a discussion of possible negative consequences of stress. Personal coping skills and organizational improvement strategies were presented as well. A repeated measures design was utilized and participants were presented the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the Occupational Stress Inventory (OSI), and a demographic questionnaire. Tests were completed prior to attending and at one week, six weeks, and 12 weeks following the workshop. Post testing reflected statistically significant decreases in emotional exhaustion and role overload. An increase was detected in self-care activities. The results tend to support the contention that stress management workshops are of benefit to nursing personnel.