Impacts of Nurses’ Stress on Patients’ Safety in Acute Care Nursing : A Descriptive Literature Review

Abstract

This thesis explores the effects of nurse stress on patient safety within acute care environments, with a particular focus on how organizational factors influence nurse well-being and care standards. Employing a qualitative methodology grounded in a descriptive literature review, the study synthesizes recent literature from 2014 to 2024 to uncover patterns, gaps, and prevailing trends. Studies were selected from PubMed, and CINAHAL databases using a structured Boolean search to ensure comprehensive coverage. Inductive content analysis of these sources identified recurring stressors for nurses, including staff shortages, long shifts, heavy workloads, emotional strain, anxiety, burnout, and resource limitations. These factors were found to directly impact patient safety, contributing to issues such as medical errors, patient falls, and hospital-acquired infections. The findings emphasize a strong association between nurse burnout and negative patient outcomes, highlighting the need for strategic healthcare management interventions. Recommended strategies include revised staffing practices, stress reduction programs, and training to support nurses in high pressure roles. By examining experiences across various levels of nursing experience, the study offers insights into mitigating occupational stress, aiming to improve patient safety and nurse retention. This study provides a foundation for further studies on enhancing both nurse welfare and care quality.