Workplace Stressors and Coping Strategies Among Nurses Working in Public Tertiary Hospitals of Sindh
Keywords:
Qualitative Research, Phenomenology, Workplace Stress, Coping Strategies, Nurses, Public Hospitals, Sindh Pakistan.Abstract
Abstract
Background:
Workplace stress is a critical challenge within the nursing profession, particularly in resource-limited public healthcare systems where nurses face heavy workloads, emotional strain, and organizational constraints. Despite its prevalence, limited research has explored how nurses in Pakistan experience and cope with these stressors. A qualitative approach is essential to understand the depth and complexity of their lived experiences within their socio-cultural and institutional contexts.
Objective:
This study aimed to explore the workplace stressors and coping strategies among nurses working in public tertiary hospitals of Sindh, Pakistan, through a phenomenological lens.
Methods:
A qualitative phenomenological design was employed. Twenty registered nurses were recruited using purposive sampling from various departments of public tertiary hospitals. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s six-step framework. Reflexivity, member checking, and peer debriefing were employed to enhance credibility and trustworthiness.
Results:
Findings revealed multifaceted stressors encompassing heavy workloads, insufficient staffing, lack of managerial support, emotional exhaustion, and moral distress arising from resource limitations. Nurses coped primarily through peer support, personal resilience, spirituality, and self-reflection, though these strategies were often constrained by systemic barriers. Ethical and emotional distress emerged as unexpected yet significant dimensions of workplace stress.
Conclusion:
The study highlights that occupational stress among nurses in Sindh’s public hospitals is a systemic issue demanding institutional and policy-level interventions. Strengthening supportive supervision, improving staffing ratios, and providing structured psychosocial support can enhance nurse well-being and healthcare quality. Future research should focus on evaluating intervention models for nurse wellness and retention.
Keywords:
Qualitative Research, Phenomenology, Workplace Stress, Coping Strategies, Nurses, Public Hospitals.
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