Physical and psychological strain on registered nurses in long-term care facilities for elderly
Matilainen, Niina; Mikkola, Pia (2018)
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Lataukset:
Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu
2018
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018052810754
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018052810754
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this thesis is to describe registered nurses’ physical and psychological strain in long-term care facilities for elderly. This thesis can provide knowledge about registered nurses’ wellbeing at work by showing how the nurses themselves feel about their job, what factors affect the strain they are under and what can be done to improve their work wellbeing.
Survey was sent in electronic form to the ward nurses’ (n=11) whom distributed it to the registered nurses (n= 50) in his or hers ward. The questionnaire was sent to two middle-sized cities,X and Y, in the capital area. The response rate in total was 20% (n=11).
The descriptive study was conducted by using a survey with closed and open-ended questions. Simple percentage analysis method was used on the multiple-choice questions and content
analysis for the open-ended questions.
The results show that 63,6% of the respondents feel that their job is physically straining and 81,8% experience psychological strain. Only 46% of the registered nurses are able to take a
coffee breaks on daily bases, but fortunately 72,9% can have a lunch break daily. Having
breaks during the day has an immediate effect on the strain the nurses experience. The study also shows that registered nurses job description now-a-days include preparing meals, washing dishes and updating social media pages, which takes time away from nursing-related duties. Having to update the social media accounts is seen as a strain, because it creates competition between wards.
Generally, registered nurses from cities X and Y experience physical and psychological strain. The factors affecting the strain were seen in the open-ended questions which indicates for example that registered nurses do not have time for breaks. Nowadays registered nurses’ job description has changed and now it includes non-care related tasks.
The results can be used to develop the work wellbeing of registered nurses’. It is to be hoped that the management and the registered nurses find ways to develop their policies regarding for example their division of work and work organizing.
Survey was sent in electronic form to the ward nurses’ (n=11) whom distributed it to the registered nurses (n= 50) in his or hers ward. The questionnaire was sent to two middle-sized cities,X and Y, in the capital area. The response rate in total was 20% (n=11).
The descriptive study was conducted by using a survey with closed and open-ended questions. Simple percentage analysis method was used on the multiple-choice questions and content
analysis for the open-ended questions.
The results show that 63,6% of the respondents feel that their job is physically straining and 81,8% experience psychological strain. Only 46% of the registered nurses are able to take a
coffee breaks on daily bases, but fortunately 72,9% can have a lunch break daily. Having
breaks during the day has an immediate effect on the strain the nurses experience. The study also shows that registered nurses job description now-a-days include preparing meals, washing dishes and updating social media pages, which takes time away from nursing-related duties. Having to update the social media accounts is seen as a strain, because it creates competition between wards.
Generally, registered nurses from cities X and Y experience physical and psychological strain. The factors affecting the strain were seen in the open-ended questions which indicates for example that registered nurses do not have time for breaks. Nowadays registered nurses’ job description has changed and now it includes non-care related tasks.
The results can be used to develop the work wellbeing of registered nurses’. It is to be hoped that the management and the registered nurses find ways to develop their policies regarding for example their division of work and work organizing.