A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PERCEIVED AND ACTUAL STRESS AND ITS SYMPTOMS AMONG THE NURSES WORKING IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT OF SELECTED HOSPITALS IN ODISHA

There are growing instances that intensive care nursing has gone through major changes over the years. Accordingly, there are increasing numbers of extremely dependent patients in intensive care unit produces much strain on the multidisciplinary team. Nurses with minimum ICU exposure are considered to care for various needy patients are more tough for skilled nurses and may recognize that ICU surroundings is a more taxing and stressful atmosphere to work.This thesis concerns to explore nurses’ actual & perceived stress in the I.C.U. Investigator’s interest in this research area is a result of long experience of working in C.C.U as a Clinical Instructor. Before 2000, the working circumstance was altered by financial cutbacks and work force problems. Discussion about stress due to economic cutbacks and staff turnover constantly disrupted the schedules. Thus it is essential in understanding the actual & perceived stress in intensive care nursing and regarding the health problems of nurses related to stress. It is realized that actual and perceived level of stress are the focus points to detect the different types of stressors.The purposes of this study are to assess the actual and perceived levels of stress and symptoms of stress among I.C.U nurses , the contribution of various dimensions of stress towards perceived and actual Stress Level of I.C.U Nurses, to compare the levels of actual and perceived stress and also symptoms of actual and perceived stress among the nurses working in I.C.U. and to determine the significant association of Perceived and actual level of stress by I.C.U nurses with the selected demographic variables . Correction of stress would be possible by recommending an evidence-based set of strategies which would help in sustaining nurses in the I.C.U setting. The results of this study would generate alertness on the consequence of actual and perceived stress and the gap can be handled by contributing a pathway to handle the gap between perceived stress and the real environment. The authors’ principal objective has been to present briefly and clearly some of the important issues as they encountered in clinical practice. The illustrations are distinctive as far as practicable in respect of both their nature and utilization. Improvement ideas in the chapter have been illustrated in order to facilitate and aid visualization of concepts. It is hoped that the book will benefit the readers, specially the undergraduate and postgraduate and PhD nursing students and the nursing students of diploma and post certificate courses also. Even the practicing nurses working in different health care setting can be benefitted in refreshing their knowledge and skill.