The relationship between the atmosphere of psychiatric ward and job stress of nurses working at university hospitals of Bushehr and Shiraz-2019

Introduction Nurseschr(chr('39')39chr('39')) job stress affects the quality of their care and professional performance. Meanwhile, nurses working in psychiatric wards face different challenges in their work environment due to the special characteristics of hospitalized patients and the unique nature of the atmosphere of these wards. Better understanding of the atmosphere of psychiatric wards and understanding its relationship with job stress of nurses working in these wards requires further studies in this field. Methods: In this cross-sectional correlational study conducted in Shiraz and Bushehr in southern Iran in 2019, the study population included nurses working in psychiatric hospitals in these two cities. The sample consisted of 181 nurses working in psychiatric wards of selected hospitals in Bushehr and Shiraz who were selected by census. Data collection tools included demographic form, valid and reliable ward atmosphere scale of Mous (1968) and nurse stress scale of Taft and Anderson (1981). Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 19 and Pearson or Spearman correlation tests, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance and linear regression. Significance level was set at less than 0.05. Results Although the total atmosphere score of the ward did not show a statistically significant relationship with the nurses chr(chr('39')39chr('39'))total job stress score, but other results showed that among the atmospheric subscales, the "order" subscale is a strong predictor of nurseschr(chr('39')39chr('39')) job stress. If the "order" is lower, the nurseschr(chr('39')39chr('39')) job stress will be at higher levels (P = 0.001, β = -0.275). Conclusion: Findings of the study emphasized the importance of "order and organization" in the psychiatric ward as a strong predictor of job stress. In order to reduce the job stress of nurses in psychiatric wards, nursing managers should act in designing the physical atmosphere of the ward, arranging equipment and facilities, as well as implementing management programs and processes in such a way that nurses working in the ward feel "order and organization" in the atmosphere of the ward.