Professional practice environment and nursing work stress in neonatal units.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the nurse professional practice environment of neonatal units and its relationship with the levels and main sources of occupational stress. METHOD: Cross-sectional descriptive, exploratory, correlational study performed with nursing professionals of neonatal units of four public hospitals. A sociodemographic/professional questionnaire, the Brazilian version of Practice Environment Scale, and the Work Stress Scale were applied. In the analysis, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson chi-squared, Likelihood Ratio, and Mann Whitney U tests were adopted for association among variables. RESULTS: Participating professionals amounted to 269. The practice environment was evaluated as favorable by more than half of the sample (63.6%), showing a significant statistical association which was inversely proportional with occupational stress (p < 0.001). The insufficient number of professionals for quality care was the major source of stress for nursing technicians, whereas teamwork with doctors was the predominant factor for the evaluation of environment quality and high stress levels of nurses. CONCLUSION: Unfavorable practice environments increase the stress levels of nursing professionals in neonatal units and may compromise patient safety.

Professional practice environment and nursing work stress in neonatal units / Ambiente de práctica profesional y estrés en el trabajo de enfermería en las unidades neonatales / Ambiente de prática profissional e estresse no trabalho da enfermagem em unidades neonatais

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the nurse professional practice environment of neonatal units and its relationship with the levels and main sources of occupational stress. Method: Cross-sectional descriptive, exploratory, correlational study performed with nursing professionals of neonatal units of four public hospitals. A sociodemographic/professional questionnaire, the Brazilian version of Practice Environment Scale, and the Work Stress Scale were applied. In the analysis, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson chi-squared, Likelihood Ratio, and Mann Whitney U tests were adopted for association among variables. Results: Participating professionals amounted to 269. The practice environment was evaluated as favorable by more than half of the sample (63.6%), showing a significant statistical association which was inversely proportional with occupational stress (p < 0.001). The insufficient number of professionals for quality care was the major source of stress for nursing technicians, whereas teamwork with doctors was the predominant factor for the evaluation of environment quality and high stress levels of nurses. Conclusion: Unfavorable practice environments increase the stress levels of nursing professionals in neonatal units and may compromise patient safety.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar la práctica profesional de enfermería en unidades neonatales y su relación con los niveles y las principales fuentes de estrés ocupacional. Método: Estudio transversal, descriptivo, exploratorio y correlacional conducido con profesionales de enfermería de unidades neonatales de cuatro hospitales públicos. Se aplicaron el cuestionario sociodemográfico/profesional, la versión brasileña de Practice Environment Scale y la Escala de Estrés en el Trabajo. En el análisis, se adoptaron la media, la desviación típica y las pruebas chi-cuadrado de Pearson, Razón de Verosimilitud y Mann Whitney U para la asociación entre las variables. Resultados: Los participantes fueron 269 profesionales. El ambiente de práctica fue evaluado como favorable por más de la mitad de la muestra (63,6%), con una asociación estadística significativa e inversamente proporcional con el estrés ocupacional (p < 0,001). El número insuficiente de profesionales para una atención de calidad fue la mayor fuente de estrés para las técnicas de enfermería, mientras que el trabajo en equipo con los médicos fue el factor predominante en la evaluación de la calidad del ambiente y del nivel de estrés elevado para las enfermeras. Conclusión: Los ambientes de práctica desfavorables aumentan el nivel de estrés de los profesionales de enfermería en las unidades neonatales y pueden comprometer la seguridad del paciente.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar o ambiente de prática profissional da enfermagem em unidades neonatais e sua relação com os níveis e as principais fontes de estresse ocupacional. Método: Estudo transversal, descritivo, exploratório e correlacional, realizado com profissionais de enfermagem das unidades neonatais de quatro hospitais públicos. Aplicaram-se o questionário sociodemográfico/profissional, Versão Brasileira da Practice Environment Scale e a Escala de Estresse no Trabalho. Na análise, adotaram-se média, desvio padrão e testes qui-quadrado de Pearson, Razão de Verossimilhança e U de Mann Whitney para associação entre variáveis. Resultados: Participaram 269 profissionais. O ambiente de prática foi avaliado como favorável por mais da metade da amostra (63,6%), demonstrando associação estatística significante e inversamente proporcional com o estresse ocupacional (p < 0,001). O número insuficiente de profissionais para um cuidado de qualidade foi a maior fonte de estresse para as técnicas de enfermagem, enquanto o trabalho em equipe com médicos foi fator preponderante na avaliação da qualidade do ambiente e do nível de estresse elevado para as enfermeiras. Conclusão: Ambientes de prática desfavoráveis aumentam o nível de estresse de profissionais de enfermagem em unidades neonatais, podendo comprometer a segurança do paciente.