Occupational Stress In Nursing Professionals

Substantial attention has been dedicated to the topic of occupational stress and the impact it has on nursing professionals, as it is a common and costly issue within workplaces (Andrews & Wan, 2014). An estimated 30% of all work-related illnesses are associated with stress (Mok, Chau, Chan, & Ip, 2014). Research indicates that nurses can be exposed to a large number of potent stressors on a daily basis, which may largely contribute in developing substance abuse (Mok et al., 2014). Occupational stress puts nurses at risk for development of problematic substance use (PSU); however, stressors outside of the workplace can also influence substance abuse behaviors (Ross, 2015). Nurses have potential vulnerability to PSU despite “any special knowledge, skills, or insights they might have owing to their education and professional experiences” (Kunyk, 2015, p. 54). A nurse with active and concealed PSU can pose threats to his/her own health, client safety, as well as to the image of nursing profession (Kunyk, 2015).
Literature Review
A literature review was conducted using the CINAHL database. Search results were limited to peer reviewed and full text articles. Key words searched include: addiction, burnout, cognitive …show more content…
Substance use is believed to be a mechanism for coping with stressful situations and relieving the anxiety associated with stressors (Ross, 2015). According to the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia (2008), problematic substance use, in nursing practice, has a negative impact on the ability of a registered nurse to practise nursing in a “safe, competent, and ethical nursing manner” (p. 3). Canadian Nurses Association (2009) indicates, “substance use is considered problematic to the extent that it affects a nurse’s performance and ability to meet standards of practice” (p.