Stress in hemodialysis nursing

This study addressed the differences in stress levels of hemodialysis personnel and their relation to demographic variables. Sixty-eight individuals from four outpatient hemodialysis centers volunteered to participate. The sample included registered and licensed vocational nurses and patient care technicians on the day and night shifts. Each completed a demographic questionnaire and four stress evaluations developed by John Adams. Two instruments measured work related stress and two measured nonworkrelated stress. Reliability of the instruments was confirmed by Cronbach Alpha reliability studies. A multiple analysis of variance was used to determine significant stress level differences between charge and primary care personnel on the day and night shifts. No significant differences were demonstrated. A canonical correlation was used to determine a relationship between demographic variables and stress levels. A correlation existed with older, married individuals exhibiting lower stress level scores and non-married less educated respondents having higher scores.