An investigation of the occupational health status of nurses working in an isolated setting

Thibeault, Catherine Ann (1989) An investigation of the occupational health status of nurses working in an isolated setting. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

An ethnographic method was used to examine the occupational health status of nurses working in an isolated community on the coast of Labrador. The researcher spent two months observing two nurses as they worked in the community, and collected data relating to the nurses' perceptions of their own work-related health. Data was collected using open-ended, unstructured interviews and participant-observation. Each nurse was found to experience different levels of work-related stress and job satisfaction. Both nurses, however, identified physical environment, role structure and role responsibilities as external variables affecting their work-related health. The effect of these variables appeared to be mediated by the internal variables of job satisfaction, stress response, physical health status and coping styles. The author recommended a re-evaluation of the nurses' role structure to reduce role conflict and role overload, and also recommended that specific educational preparation and professional support programs be established for these nurses.

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