Occupational stressors in oncology nurses: A qualitative descriptive study

Aim and objectives The present study aims at exploring oncology nurses' perceptions regarding work-related stressors. Background Oncology nurses work in an environment with a high degree of stress, which can negatively affect their health. There is limited research on work-related stressors from the oncology nurses' perspective. Design Qualitative descriptive study. Methods Fifty-two oncology nurses were selected purposefully from eight cancer treatment centres in different cities of Iran. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using conventional content analysis. The COREQ checklist was used to document the report of the study. Results The extracted contents were classified into four main categories. The first category involved personal ability with two subcategories (person-job fit and psychological competencies). The second category included physical environment arrangements with two subcategories (physical working conditions and equipment and facilities). The third category involved psychosocial safety in the workplace with four subcategories (creating a safe work environment, overcoming the challenges of providing care to cancer patients, work/life balance and social recognition of the nursing status). The fourth category holds an organisational context with four subcategories (organisational support, interpersonal relations, justice at work and human resources). Conclusion It is necessary to find measures attenuating work-related stresses in oncology nurses. These measures should be in line with developing personal abilities in nurses and creating a safe environment in terms of optimising physical, psychosocial and organisational conditions. It is also important to develop programmes protecting the oncology nurses' occupational health. Relevance to clinical practice The results of this study can help improve nursing work conditions, attenuate work-related stresses in nurses and introduce efficient interventions reducing occupational stressors.