Stress level among nurses that work in ER department in Nigeria and their work life balance. The WritePass Journal

Stress level among nurses that work in ER department in Nigeria and their work life balance. Abstract Stress level among nurses that work in ER department in Nigeria and their work life balance. , p. 25), which leads to a disconnection from both work and home life. This can have serious consequences if not dealt with effectively, which is why more needs to be done to tackle workplace stresses. This is especially the case when it comes to emergency departments since nurses are under a lot more pressure in the job and are subjected to greater physical demands than other departments. Consequently, it is believed that â€Å"emergency departments should be screened regularly on job and organisational characteristics to identify determinants of stress-health outcomes that can be the target of preventive interventions† (Adriaenssens, 2011, p. 1). Essentially, it is therefore important that the stress level among nurses that work in Emergency departments in Nigeria are reduced and that a work-life balance is being attained by all nurses. Research Aims and Objectives The aims and objectives of this research are to determine the stress levels amongst Nigerian nurses in order to determine whether they are receiving a work-life balance. This will enable a determination to be made as to whether interventions are needed to reduce the stress levels and whether Nigerian nurses working in emergency departments are more prone to stress than those working in other departments. Consideration as to how these nurses cope with stress will also be established, followed by an assessment as to what improvements need to be made in order to prevent nurse shortage ensuing within the emergency department. Research Questions Is stress prevalent amongst nurses in general? What are the levels of stress nurses within emergency departments subjected to and how does this compare with other departments? Are nurses working within emergency departments in Nigeria more likely to suffer from stress than those working in other departments? How do nurses cope with stress? What is nurse burnout? How serious is nurse burnout and in what ways can it be tackled? Are poor working conditions one of the main factors causing stress? Do Nigerian nurses working in emergency departments have a work-life balance? What interventions are needed to reduce the stress levels of Nigerian nurses? Is stress likely to result in nurse shortage? Predictions The underlying objective of this study is to determine the effect stress has upon nurses in Nigerian emergency departments and to consider present stress levels, whilst also analysing the work-life balance of these nurses. H1. Stress levels amongst Nigerian nurses are increased in emergency departments. H2. Nurse burnout is one of the main causes of stress. H3. Poor working conditions ultimately lead to stress. H4. Stress is likely to result in nurse shortage. H5. Nurses within emergency departments are subjected to higher levels of stress than nurses working in other departments. H6. It is important that stress amongst nurses is being sufficiently tackled. H7. Improvements to the working conditions of nurses would allow a work-life balance to be achieved. Key Words Nigerian Nurses Stress Levels Burnout Nigerian Emergency Departments Working Conditions Work-Life Balance Intervention Methodology Design A quantitative research approach will be utilised for this assignment in order to develop theories and hypotheses pertinent to the observations being made about the stress levels of Nigerian nurses working in emergency departments. Measurement is one of the main aspects of quantitative research and for this reason it is important that definitive comparisons between empirical observation and mathematical expression of quantitative connections are made throughout this study. Data collected under this type of research consists of any data in numerical form such as statistics. Furthermore, quantitative data will also be collected from the use of questionnaires by asking participants various questions that are relevant to the hypothesis. Numerical data will then be collected and statistically analysed to answer the question using the data received. It is hoped that the data collected will help to determine the correlation between stress and health in nurses that work in emergency departme nts, whilst also considering how nurses cope with their personal life and the effects stress has on their work-life balance. The data that is to be analysed will be collected from applicable text books, journal articles, online databases and governmental reports. These will consist of both primary and secondary resources which will ensure that a deeper understanding of the subject matter can be acquired, whilst also obtaining an overall assessment of the stress levels amongst Nigerian nurses in emergency departments. An objective and subjective approach will be employed in doing so, as this will ensure that divergent viewpoints are incorporated into the study which will enable a critical evaluation to be made. The collection of immediate data will thus allow a proper assessment to be made as to the impact stress has upon nurses and an overview as to what changes ought to be made will be provided. The secondary data will enable the current phenomena surrounding the stress levels of N igerian nurses to be analysed which will allow the requirements of the study to be satisfied. Although secondary data is considered to be less reliable than primary data, it is important that the study includes existing observations of the hypotheses. Participants Since it would be unrealistic to study every nurse working within an emergency department in Nigeria, it is essential that only a pool of participants is selected. Furthermore, whilst it must be ensured that this pool is small, because of the impracticalities that would arise from studying a large pool, it is important that the amount of nurses studied is sufficient enough for the research question to be answered appropriately. Accordingly, approximately 100 voluntary participants will be used for this study and will consist of nurses from a specialist governmental hospital in Nigeria namely; Gwagwalada clinic and maternity in Abuja. In considering whether this sample size is appropriate, a power and sample size estimation will need to be undertaken. Therefore, it will need to be assessed whether â€Å"there is the possibility of harmful effects from participating in the study† (Taylor and Kermode, 2006, p. 207). Consequently, it will need to be shown that the study will achie ve the desired outcome (power) and that the number of people participating will help to achieve this (sample size). In addition, the data being collected must be measurable on the same scale and the sample size must not be too high. This is because, unnecessary time and expense would otherwise be utilised which would be detrimental to the study overall. Here, the power and sample size estimation has been satisfied since the data is of the same scale and measurement and the sample size does appear reasonable. Materials A questionnaire will be used for this study in order to determine the personal effects in which stress has upon the participants. In doing so, the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) will be utilised so that the levels of anxiety and depression can easily be determined. The HADS was originally developed by Zigmond and Snaith (1983, pp. 361-370) and has been considered an effective way of measuring health (McDowell, 2006, p. 297) by looking at items on the questionnaire that relate to anxiety and depression. Once each item has been identified a score of 0-3 will then be given, which will allow a decision to be made as to the level of anxiety and depression that is prevalent amongst these nurses. The use of questionnaires is highly beneficial to this study as the impact in which stress has upon individual nurses in Nigeria will be more easily determined. In addition, the information that is gathered will be more applicable to the study and will help to address the concerns raised in the studies aims and objectives. Furthermore, the answers received will also be relevant to the hypotheses and a detailed account of the existing stress levels amongst nurses will be provided. Procedure Steps to be taken in the research process; Step 1: Determine the purpose of the research and identify the problem Step 2: Determine who the research project is aimed and review current literature surrounding the issue Step 3: Consider the requirements of the study and any limitations Step 4: Investigate the topic by gathering relevant information to be analysed Step 5: Consider what elements of the topic are the most important to the study Step 6: Define the population that is to be studied Step 7: Develop a data plan Step 8: Collect the applicable data Step 9: Analyse the data that has been collected Step 10: Compare the data collected with existing data in order to determine whether   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   hypotheses has been answered Literature Review Summary Nurses generally deal with life threatening conditions in all emergency departments and so are often faced with medical dilemmas which need to be dealt with immediately. Consequently, it is thus unsurprising that the working conditions can become rather strenuous, which ultimately leads to nurse burnout (Masters, 2009, p. 320). As a result of this, it is vital that various measures are implemented in all emergency departments so that the stress levels of nurses can be reduced. This will prevent nurse burnout from taking place and a work-life balance will be more easily ascertained. Whilst nurses are trained to deal with the difficulties they may face, it is important that the health and safety of nurses is also being given due consideration because â€Å"chronic stress takes a toll when there are additional stress factors like home stress, conflict at work, inadequate staffing, poor teamwork and poor supervision† (Kane, 2009, p. 28). Therefore, in order to avoid nurse burnout, it is necessary that all of these factors are avoided from the outset, since this would otherwise lead to inadequate care being provided to patients. Hence, it is therefore imperative that nurses have a work-life balance since this guarantees optimum performance (Nursing Times, 2011, p. 1). In order for a work–life balance to be achieved, it is important to firstly identify the causes of stress. This will allow effective changes to be implemented, which will help to avoid nurse burnout from being instigated in the first place. Unless the problems surrounding stress are acknowledged by emergency departments, it will not be tackled effectively. Emergency departments within underdeveloped countries, such as Nigeria, do appear to have greater stress levels than those within developed countries. This illustrates how a lack of resources will ultimately lead to inadequate conditions for nurses and as put by (Lasebikan and Oyetunde, 2012, pp. 1-2); â€Å"A growing recognition of job stress leading to dissatisfaction among registered nurses in Nigerian hospitals has contributed to current problems with recruitment and retention of nurses.† In accordance with this, it is likely that stress within emergency departments will result in nurse shortages. This is because; nurses will not want to be subjected to stressful conditions, which is why the causes of stress need to be dealt with efficiently. Despite the awareness surrounding these issues, it is clear that nurse burnout does commonly occur throughout Nigeri an hospitals. As absurd as this may seem, it is evident that stress is being insufficiently dealt with. Consequently, various measures therefore need to be implemented in order to reduce the levels of stress that occur within Nigerian emergency departments, yet it remains to be seen what measures will in fact be implemented. Conclusion Overall, it is evident that stress levels are prevalent amongst nurses within Nigerian emergency departments, which is largely due to the added pressure that nurses within these departments are being subjected to. Regardless of this, it seems as though stress can in fact be reduced provided that the problems associated with stress are properly dealt with. Whether this will ever be attained is questionable since it seems as though there has been an awareness of this problem for some time, yet Nigerian hospitals have still failed to implement adequate measures dealing with nurse burnout. Essentially, it is important that something is done to reduce the stress that currently persists as this may ultimately lead to nurse shortages within emergency departments. This would substantially affect the care that is currently provided to Nigerians and the emergency departments would be significantly affected as a result. Data Analysis Subsequent to all of the relevant data being collected, it will then need to be analysed so that a determination can be made as to whether stress levels within Nigerian emergency departments are high. In doing so, however, the data will first need to be cleaned through the inspection of each source so that a decision can be made as to whether the data should be used for the study: â€Å"the quality of the research should be judged in relation to the resources available and the effectiveness with which those resources have been used to investigate the particular topic in question† (Denscombe, 2009, p. 53). Once a thorough investigation of the collected data has been made, it can then be determined what data is most applicable to this particular study. Ethics There are a number of ethical issues that will need to be addressed when undertaking this study since the fundamental issues surrounding this topic are extremely sensitive. As such, it is necessary to ensure that the confidentiality and anonymity of the participants of the study are maintained and that permission to use the data collected is first obtained (Dawson, 2009, p. 150). The ethical rules of conduct will also need to be conformed to, which means that any data collected must be used in a way that is â€Å"honest, unbiased, sincere, free from errors or negligence, open to critique and it must protect confidential communications† (Rensik, 2011, p. 1). This can be achieved by adopting a risk-analysis approach and by conforming to the BPS guidelines. A letter of introduction and an ethics checklist will also be completed and provided to the hospital in order to gain their consent to carry out the research. References Adriaenssens, J. (2011) AE Staff Need Regular Stress Screening, Nursing Times, [Online] Available: nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/accident-and-emergency/ae-staff-need-regular-stress-screening/5027021.article [13 January 2013]. Dawson, C. (2009) Introduction to Research Methods: A Practical Guide for Anyone Undertaking a Research Project, How to Books Ltd, 4th Edition. Denscombe, M. (2009) Ground Rules for Social Research: Guidelines for Good Practice. 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill International. Kane, P. P. (2009) Stress Causing Psychosomatic Illness Among Nurses, Indian Journal of Occupational Environment Medicine, vol. 13, no. 1. Lasebikan, V. O. and Oyetunde, M. O. (2012) Burnout among Nurses in a Nigerian General Hospital: Prevalence and Associated Factors, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, [Online] Available: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3350958/#B7 [14 January 2013]. Masters, K. (2009) Role Development in Professional Nursing Practice, Jones Bartlett Publishers, 2nd Edition. McDowell, I. (2006) Measuring Health: A Guide to Rating Scales and Questionnaires, Oxford University Press. Nursing Times. (2011) How’s Your Work-Life Balance? [Online] Available: nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/educators/hows-your-work-life-balance/5030453.article [14 January 2013]. Resnik, D. B. (2011) What is Ethics in Research and Why is it Important?’ [Online] Available: niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/bioethics/whatis/ [14 January 2013]. Simmons, S. (2012) Striving for Work-Life Balance, American Journal of Nursing, vol. 112, no. 1. Taylor, B. and Kermode, S. (2006) Nursing Research 3e, Cengage Learning in Australia, 3rd Edition. Zigmond, A. S. and Snaith, R. P. (1983) The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, vol. 67, no. 6.

Dorothy Parker Quotes

Dorothy Parker Quotes Dorothy Parker was a writer and critic for such magazines as Vogue, Vanity Fair, and the New Yorker. She also wrote a number of screenplays, poetry, and short fiction. A founder of the Algonquin Round Table, she was known for her pointed verbal wit and satire, often focused on the life of middle class young women, newly liberated from Victorian restrictions. Selected Dorothy Parker Quotations Im never going to be famous. I dont do anything, not one single thing. I used to bite my nails, but I dont even do that anymore.I dont care what is written about me so long as it isnt true.Wit has truth in it; wisecracking is simply calisthenics with words.Oh, I said it, alright. You know how it is. A joke. When people expect you to say things, you say things. Isnt that the way it is?I know that there are things that never have been funny, and never will be. And I know that ridicule may be a shield, but it is not a weapon.You cant teach an old dogma new tricks.Women and elephants never forget.I might repeat to myself slowly and soothingly, a list of quotations beautiful from minds profound- if I can remember any of the damn things.I havent got a visual mind. I hear things.Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses.Four be the things Id have been better without:  Love, curiosity, freckles, and doubt.A girls best friend is her mutter.I require only three things of a man. He mus t be handsome, ruthless, and stupid. Take care of luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves.Salary is no object; I want only enough to keep body and soul apart.Money cannot buy health, but Id settle for a diamond-studded wheelchair.As I was saying to the landlord only this morning: You cant have everything.The two most beautiful words in the English language are cheque enclosed.As far as I am concerned, the most beautiful word in the English language is cellar-door.If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.Inertia rides and riddles me; /  The which is called Philosophy.The best way to keep children home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant- and let the air out of the tires.Now, look, baby, Union is spelled with 5 letters. It is not a four-letter word.It serves me right for keeping all my eggs in one bastard.All I need is room enough to lay a hat and a few friends. Heterosexuality is not normal, its just common.Scratch a lover, and find a foe.Scratch an actor and find an actress.Men dont like nobility in woman. Not any men. I suppose it is because the men like to have the copyrights on nobility- if there is going to be anything like that in a relationship.That woman speaks eighteen languages, and cant say no in any of them.People are more fun than anybody.I like to have a martini,Two at the very most.After three Im under the table,after four Im under my host.Did I enjoy the party? One more drink and Id have been under the host.Id rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy.You can lead a horticulture, but you cant make her think.Ducking for apples- change one letter and its the story of my life.Brevity is the soul of lingerie.This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.She runs the gamut of emotions from A to B.The only -ism Hollywood believes in is plagiarism. If all the young ladies who attended the Yale prom were laid end to end, no one would be the least surprised.As only New Yorkers know, if you can get through the twilight, youll live through the night.He (Robert Benchley) and I had an office so tiny that an inch smaller and it would have been adultery.Misfortune, and recited misfortune especially, may be prolonged to that point where it ceases to excite pity and arouses only irritation.Constant use had not worn ragged the fabric of their friendship.Brendan Gill, in introducing  The Portable Dorothy Parker:  The span of her work is narrow, and what it embraces is often slight.To a man she found annoying:  With the crown of thorns I wear, why should I worry about a little prick like you?About being refused admittance to a casino in Monte Carlo in 1926 because she did not have stockings on:  So I went and found my stockings and then came back and lost my shirt.When being questioned by the FBI, 1952: Listen, I cant even get my do g to stay down. Do I look like someone who could overthrow the government? When asked whether she was Dorothy Parker:  Yes, do you mind?Summer makes me drowsy.Autumn makes me sing.Winters pretty lousy,But I hate Spring.Razors pain you; Rivers are damp;Acids stain you; And drugs cause cramp.Guns arent lawful; Nooses give;Gas smells awful; You might as well live.Oh, both my shoes are shiny new /  And pristine is my hatOh, life is a glorious cycle of song,A medley of extemporanea;And love is a thing that can never go wrong;And I am Marie of Romania.The pure and worthy Mrs. StoweIs one we all are proud to knowAs mother, wife, and authoress- Thank God, I am content with less!After the death of her husband a conversation with a neighbor:Neighbor:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Is there anything I can do?†D.P.: â€Å"Yes, get me another husband.†Neighbor:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Dottie, thats a terrible thing to say!†D.P. â€Å"All right, get me a ham and cheese on rye.†That would be a good thing for them to cut on my tombstone: Wherever she went, including here, it wa s against her better judgment.I like to think of my shining tombstone. It gives me, as you might say, something to live for. To Lillian Hellman, her executor, a few days before dying:  Lilly, promise me that my gravestone will carry only these words: If you can read this, youre too close. About These Quotes: Quote collection assembled by Jone Johnson Lewis. This is an informal collection assembled over many years. I regret that I am not be able to provide the original source if it is not listed with the quote.