Impact of Nurses’ Stress on Patient Safety in Acute Care Settings
Samarakoon Mudiyanselage, Shyama; Wickramasinghe, Nethmi (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025100725714
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025100725714
Tiivistelmä
Purpose
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of occupational stress among nurses on patient safety in acute care settings. Specially the study aimed to examine the major sources of stress experienced by nurses and how these stressors may undermine safe nursing interventions and therapeutic outcomes.
Methods
This research was conducted as a descriptive literature review. The data was collected from studies published between 2020 and 2024 using CINAHL, PubMed, and Medline databases. Eight articles were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were analyzed using inductive content analysis to identify recurring themes and categories related to nurses' stress and patient safety.
Results
The findings from the literature review indicated that nurses in acute care settings face a wide range of stressors that directly impact patient safety. Common sources of stress included high patient-to- nurse ratios, long working hours, shift work, time pressure, and emotional demands of patient care were the most frequent sources of stress. These stressors were found to impair cognitive function, decision-making, and communication, resulting in medical errors, missed care, and reduced quality of patient outcomes. Additionally, organizational factors such as insufficient management support, poor culture of safety, and lack of resources further contributed to these challenges. The conversation also emphasized that in the absence of effective coping strategies or organizational interventions, the accumulation of stress effects can contribute to burnout, job dissatisfaction, and turnover, all of which further compromise safe and effective patient care.
Conclusion
Occupational stress among nurses in acute care settings has a significant impact on patient safety. Addressing the root causes of stress through positive work environments, staffing, and training programs will be pivotal to enhancing nurse well-being and quality patient care. Hospital leadership should be able to implement stress reduction practices effectively to ensure safe nursing practice.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of occupational stress among nurses on patient safety in acute care settings. Specially the study aimed to examine the major sources of stress experienced by nurses and how these stressors may undermine safe nursing interventions and therapeutic outcomes.
Methods
This research was conducted as a descriptive literature review. The data was collected from studies published between 2020 and 2024 using CINAHL, PubMed, and Medline databases. Eight articles were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were analyzed using inductive content analysis to identify recurring themes and categories related to nurses' stress and patient safety.
Results
The findings from the literature review indicated that nurses in acute care settings face a wide range of stressors that directly impact patient safety. Common sources of stress included high patient-to- nurse ratios, long working hours, shift work, time pressure, and emotional demands of patient care were the most frequent sources of stress. These stressors were found to impair cognitive function, decision-making, and communication, resulting in medical errors, missed care, and reduced quality of patient outcomes. Additionally, organizational factors such as insufficient management support, poor culture of safety, and lack of resources further contributed to these challenges. The conversation also emphasized that in the absence of effective coping strategies or organizational interventions, the accumulation of stress effects can contribute to burnout, job dissatisfaction, and turnover, all of which further compromise safe and effective patient care.
Conclusion
Occupational stress among nurses in acute care settings has a significant impact on patient safety. Addressing the root causes of stress through positive work environments, staffing, and training programs will be pivotal to enhancing nurse well-being and quality patient care. Hospital leadership should be able to implement stress reduction practices effectively to ensure safe nursing practice.