Impact of Work Related Stress on Burnout among I.C.U Nurses:A Literature Review

This paper highlights findings from a literature search to examine the impact of work related stress on burnout among I.C.U nurses and the review further focused on whether their perception change during the working period and the impact of working area preferences. Unless nurses perceptions are changed regarding work related stress they may affect the output of service. Implicaions for relieving job related stress include orientation to physical in frastcture ,policies and protocols ,in-service education, conselling schedules ,good remuneration etc. that foster the retention of nurses where there is growing need of qualified nurses and prevent burn out among nurses. More research is needed to determine the effectiveness of coping strategies into stress inoculation programmes. These programmes give persons preparatory information to enable them to increase their tolerance for subsequent threatening events. Stress inoculation should be included in nursing curricular and staff development programmes. However to avoid 'blaming the victim', the nurse who succumbs to burnout because of overwhelming environmental stressors, stress inoculation should be coupled with organizational strategies to promote positive working conditions. Also research is needed to determine the value of guidelines for stress management programme and stress management modules when to be implemented and their effectiveness for I.C.U registered nurses to prevent and control the burnout. It is essential for the management is to listen the concern of nurses, provide flexible scheduling, adequate staffing levels as well as appropriate rewards and recognition. Stress management programme should be incorporated into the curriculum of neophytes by nursing training institutions with the aim of empowering them with coping resources as they enter the nursing profession so that the percentage of burnout can be reduced to a greater extent.