Research Outcomes

This study aims to clarify the concept of occupational stress among nursing professionals in recent years. To elucidate the concept of occupational stress in nursing professionals, we used the concept analysis method developed by Rodgers and Knafl. The analysis identified four attributes, 14 antecedents, and four consequences. Occupational stress among nursing professionals is defined as stress influenced by factors unique to the nursing profession, including workplace stress factors, individual factors, and non-work factors. Examples include heavy responsibility for patients' lives, workload, and variability in tasks. This stress can lead to compounded physical and mental fatigue, resulting in irregular physical and psychological symptoms. These symptoms manifest as acute stress reactions from an imbalance between activity and rest. If such conditions persist, chronic physical and mental health issues may arise, negatively impacting nursing duties and potentially leading to burnout. However, the presence of buffering factors can sometimes promote changes that contribute to personal growth. The concept of occupational stress among nursing professionals involves the simultaneous interplay of various individual and workplace factors. This includes hard-to-predict elements such as infectious diseases as well as significant workplace responsibilities related to work and patients' lives, suggesting a high likelihood of accumulating physical and psychological fatigue. The lack of sufficient stress-buffering factors in nursing highlights an urgent need to establish robust support systems and to develop tools that effectively mitigate stress and prevent the buildup of fatigue.

https://doi.org/10.53044/jinr.2025-0005