Occupational stress in the operating theatre suite: should employers be concerned?

Research conducted amongst perioperative nurses during 1996 investigated both the causes of occupational stress and nurses' perceptions of the effects of modern medical technologies on several aspects of their work life during the preceding three years. It found that there was a strong perception amongst the 433 nurses in the study that medical technologies had contributed to their increased workloads and higher levels of stress. This article presents the key findings on occupational stress and discusses some of their implications for health service managers who have responsibility for the occupational health and safety of nurses working in the operating theatre environment.