Anxiety and Related Symptoms among Critical Care Nurses in Albaha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background/objective: Nursing is considered an Angel of Mercy profession, but it is also one of the most stressful jobs compared to other health care sectors. The aim of this study was to determine the anxiety levels and related symptoms among critical care nurses in Albaha governmental hospitals. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. It was conducted in Albaha at four governmental hospitals in the period from January to March 2015. Sixty nurses from critical care settings (intensive care units, emergency room, and operating room) were selected by convenience sampling. Demographic data and anxiety data were collected by questionnaire; anxiety levels were obtained using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 20). Results: The nurses in this study have a mild level of anxiety ranged from 0.60 to 1.52. The findings of this study reflected a statistically significant inversed correlation between anxiety levels and the age of critical care nurses. Conclusion: The anxiety level of the critical care nurses in Albaha hospitals is mild. The most reported symptoms of anxiety include anxious mood, tension, insomnia, somatic symptoms and fear.