Australian health review : a publication of the Australian Hospital Association
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Research on stress experienced by staff in critical care units has predominantly focused on the nurses; however, a small number of investigations have centred on intensivist neonatologists and paediatricians. Australian studies which have highlighted the major stressors encountered by critical care staff are reviewed. Research is reported which suggests that job satisfaction is diminished for staff working within highly stressful critical care units. Implications are discussed in order to focus attention upon the effects of high dependency stressful work environments.
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Two hundred and fifty-one registered nurses who left a major teaching hospital during a three year period from May 1984 to April 1987, completed a questionnaire which sought information on their period of employment and reasons for leaving. The most common work related reasons given by registered nurses for leaving, were excessive workload and inflexible rostering practices. They also perceived positive interpersonal relationships among staff as the single most satisfying factor about the work environment. Management and staff based initiatives are suggested in order to minimise work related reasons for registered nurse turnover.