The Effect of Workload Perception and Occupational Stress on Medical Error Attitudes of Nurses Working in Surgical Clinics

Abstract

Objectives: The study was conducted to determine workload perception and effects of occupational stress on medical error attitudes of nurses working in surgical clinics.Method: This descriptive study was connducted with 100 nurses employed at surgery clinics, Ordu State Hospital and Training and Research Hospital of Ordu University, Turkey. The data were collected using Descriptive Questionnaire Form, Occupational Stress Scale, Individual Workload Perception Scale and Medical Error Attitudes Scale between September and December 2015.Results: There is not any significant relationship between the average scores of all three scales when they are compared with each other (p>0.05). The surgical nurses’ average score on the individual workload perception scale is 73.37±9.06, their average score on the occupational stress scale is 42.21±4.99, and their average score on the medical error attitude scale is 40.86 ±5.40. It was determined that workload perception and occupational stress in the nurses employed in surgical clinics did not have effect on the medical error attitudes. (r=0.712).Conclusion: In this study, it was observed that nurses’ perception of work stress and work overload did not affect medical error attitudes. The overall average scores of surgical nurses on the scales of individual workload perception, occupational stress, and medical error attitude are directly proportional.