[Psychological Stress in Hospital Nursing Staff: Effects of Status and Organizational Structures].

OBJECTIVE: The study investigates the impact of organizational structures in hospitals on nursing staff's psychological stress. The stress level that is caused by the specific working conditions of a major hospital is presented in a cross-sectional analysis differentiated by organizational categories with regard to effects of structure and status.

METHODS: Data were collected via Impuls-Test and by a context-specific supplementary questionnaire among the registered nursing staff of a major maximum care hospital. For analysis of the data, we used the effort-reward-imbalance and the job-demand-control model as well as an average calculation of 13 different dimensions of working conditions, differentiated by organizational categories.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The results show that the nursing staff's level of psychological stress can only be understood against the background of their organizational involvement and position in the hospital. The effects clearly vary in terms of organizational unit, working hour model and status and position occupied.