Attitude, role perception and nursing stress on life sustaining treatment among intensive care unit nurses

Abstract

Purpose: The aims of the study were to investigate relationships among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses' attitude, role perception, and nursing stress related to life sustaining treatment (LST), and secondly, to identify factors influencing nursing stress about LST. Methods: Participants were 202 conveniently sampled ICU nurses from general hospitals in Korea with over 300 beds. From December 1, 2015 to January 31, 2016, data were collected using structured questionnaires. The questionnaire was designed to measure nursing stress related to LST. Content validity and reliability was established for the instrument. Results: Relationships were found between attitude and role perception, and between role perception and nursing stress about LST. Participants' role perception, gender, education level, and the experience of dealing with family members of patients receiving LST accounted for 13% of variance in nursing stress about LST. Conclusion: Results confirmed that ICU nurses' role perception affects nursing stress about LST. Accordingly, the nursing education programs related to LST should aim to enhance role perception of nurses, and strategies to reduce the nursing stress about LST of the nurses in ICU need to be further developed.