Stressful situations and coping strategies adopted by leading nurses

Abstract

Objective: To analyze coping with stress experienced by leading nurses in the workplace, as well as identify stressful situations and coping strategies. Methods: A mixed study based on the case study method and developed in a private hospital. 23 leading nurses participated in the qualitative phase by applying a questionnaire for sociodemographic and professional characterization and the Nurses' Stress Inventory (Inventário de Estresse em Enfermeiros). In the qualitative stage, 21 leading nurses answered the narrative interview. Data were statistically analyzed descriptively with measures of central tendency and dispersion by univariate analysis using the Stata SE 12 software. The qualitative ones, treated according to the content analysis and aid of the NVIVO® software version 11. Christophe Dejours' theoretical framework was adopted. Results: An overall score between 55 and 134 was identified, with a mean stress of 93.65 ± 20.33. Participants did not show high stress levels. Situations as the major source of stress in the workplace were: having a short time to fulfill orders (43.8%), performing different tasks simultaneously (39.1%) and working with unprepared people (39.1%). In the interviews, emotional overload, sleep disturbance, binge eating, episodes of forgetfulness and anxiety were evidenced. Using individual and collective defensive strategies to cope with stress and adopt coping. Conclusion: Even without presenting high levels of stress, participants experience stressful situations in their daily lives and adopt strategies for coping with them.