DOI: 10.5176/2315-4330_WNC13.82
Authors: Rafii F
Abstract:
Aim: This paper as a part of more extensive research project aims to explain and describe the nurses' responses to the stressors within burn centers of Tehran.
Background: Nursing in a burn unit demands a heavy workload and provokes intense emotional response in nurses. The uniqueness of the burn unit and burn victim's characteristics requires the knowledge of the nurse's experience and her/his responses and reactions in these settings.
Method: Grounded theory was used as method. Thirty-eight participants were required by purposeful and theoretical sampling. The data were generated using unstructured interviews and participant observations. Constant comparison was used for data analysis.
Findings: Participants represented negative feelings and behaviors in response to the stressors within burn centers. These reactions emerged as emotional, attitudinal, psychosomatic, behavioral and organisational responses. Emotional responses included personal and professional desperation: attitudinal responses emerged as depersonalization and negativity; psychosomatic responses included physical and psychological attrition; behavioral responses manifested as intolerance and justification; and organizational responses emerged as perfunctory care and declining performance.
Conclusion: The study clarified that the nurses' responses to the stressors within the burn centers are very similar to the symptoms of job burnout and they are using some coping strategies to protect themselves against harm. So we suggest nurse managers of burn centers to carefully monitor these responses in their staff and execute stress reduction programs in these centers. Further research is needed to support the findings.
Keywords: Grounded Theory, Quality Nursing Care, Burns, Burnout, Organizational Behaviour
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