Paving the way to reduce work-stress in rehabilitation nurses: Promising results from a pilot study.

ABSTRACT

Work Stress (WS) negatively affects both nurses and the healthcare system. The aim of this exploratory study is to investigate the effect of a professional stress prevention program in order to reduce WS in nurses working in a Rehab Ward. Twenty-three nurses were enrolled in this pilot study. The professional stress prevention program was based on group meetings and individual support. At baseline, we found a high burnout risk in nurses. At the end of the meetings, we found a normalization in WS, with a higher sense of personal achievement and a greater use of functional coping strategies. Intervention on WS could be a useful way to reduce stress and anxiety, promoting more functional coping strategies to face work difficulties in nurses working in Rehab wards.