ORGANIZATIONAL WORK ENVIRONMENT BARRIERS FOR NURSING PRACTICES AT HEALTH CARE FACILITIES IN DUBAI, UAE

Background: Relationships of work may be potential stressors. Sources are related to conflict with colleagues, and lack of support that can be provided by others. One assessment showed that “lack of social support from colleagues and superiors, and less satisfaction with the head nurses” contributed significantly to stress.

Study Purpose: To study interpersonal work environmental barriers in nursing practise at health care facilities.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out at government and private hospitals in Dubai. The data collection tool was the "Expanded Nursing Stress Scale", (ENSS). The sample size from private hospitals were 185 (63.8%) nurses, and from governmental hospitals were 110 (36.2%) nurses.

Results: The event of “Feeling inadequately prepared to help with the emotional needs of a patient's family” scored the highest mean score of 2.14. It was evident that “Having to make decisions under pressure” is the most stressful event with a mean score of 2.48, followed by “too many non nursing tasks required, such as clerical work” with mean score of 2.34, while “demands of patients classification system” is the least stressful event (1.86). Absence of physician in emergency ward was the most stressful factor leading to uncertainty concerning treatment with a mean score of 2.48 while “feeling inadequately trained for what is required to do” is the least stressful event with score of 1.44.

Conclusion: Organizational determinants are the main determinants in developing job-related stress among nurses during in-services practises. Addressing organizational work environment gaps during nursing practices requires developing nursing professional developing program, setting up regulations and standards and creating healthy work environment (friendly work environment).