Distress and demoralization of hospital nurses as a function of sources of stress and job seniority.

AIM: To explore job-related factors associated with distress and demoralization among hospital nurses, using a cross-sectional mixed-method design.

BACKGROUND: Sources of job stress for nurses are mainly organizational or emotional care-related and can result in adverse outcomes such as distress or demoralization, but factors associated with demoralization in nurses still need to be thoroughly explored.

METHODS: A convenience sample of 150 nurses from three public hospitals completed an online survey on job stress, distress, demoralization, and feelings of entrapment in the caring profession.

RESULTS: Emotional job stress was linked to higher distress and demoralization, compared to no job stress, and to higher feelings of entrapment, compared to both organizational and no job stress, among senior nurses.

CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study points to the study of demoralization as a promising line of research in hospital nursing, but further longitudinal studies with larger samples are needed.