Date of Award

11-4-2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MSc in Nursing

First Advisor

Dr. Salma Rattani

Second Advisor

Ms. Zainish Surani

Third Advisor

Ms. Ambreen Merchant

Department

School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Working with terminally ill patients is stressful and impacts on healthcare professionals. Providing a supportive work environment can facilitate building resilience among these professionals helping them to provide quality care to patients.
Purpose: This research explored the experience of oncology nurses regarding work-related stress, factors contributing to stress and effects on the overall well-being of oncology nurses.
Methodology: An exploratory qualitative study design was used. In-depth interviews were conducted of nine nurses working in the oncology department at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Data was analyzed using content analysis process and themes and sub-themes were extracted.
Findings: The participants were BScN qualified. Their age ranged from 20 to 34 years and experience was minimum of one year. Three themes extracted were ‘work-related stressors’, ‘impact of stressors’ and ‘mitigation strategies. The findings indicated that oncology nurses were experiencing emotional burden and were burned out in providing care to patients who were terminally ill, undergoing aggressive treatment, suffering and dying. These feelings were also related to a shortage of staffing, high patient volume, complex care needs and long working hours. The findings also revealed inadequate support from the management, counselling services and opportunity for career development contributed to burnout.
Conclusion: This study highlighted that the nurses working in oncology being stressed out. Identifying and managing it is important and there are strategies that can be employed. These include training and education programs, mindfulness and counselling services for the staff, building resilience, organizational policies for providing a supportive environment, promoting a work-life balance and job satisfaction to list few

First Page

1

Last Page

64

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