Occupational Hazards and Job Stress on Nurses Productivity in Selected Hospitals in Abia State, Nigeria

Nurses, Hazards, Occupation, Productivity, Stress

Abstract

This study assessed the influence of occupational hazards and job stress on productivity of nurses in hospitals in Abia State. Two objectives, and corresponding research questions and hypotheses were formulated. Descriptive survey design was adopted. Population comprised the estimated 5302 nurses in hospitals in Abia State. A sample of 530 nurses was selected, using double-stage random sampling technique. The instrument entitled, “Nurses’ Occupational Hazards, Job Stress and Productivity Questionnaire (NOHJSPQ), was used for data collection. The NOHJSPQ was validated and subjected to reliability test, and it yielded an index of .87 after analysis using Cronbach Alpha. Data from 530 valid completed copies of NOHJSPQ were used for analysis. Research questions were answered using Mean and Standard deviation. Hypotheses were t-tested statistic. Decisions on hypotheses were taken at 0.05 alpha level. Findings showed that the occupational hazards and job stress experienced by nurses were prolonged standing, high job demands, involvement in repetitive tasks, poor human relationship in hospital, risk of contracting infections, working longer hours, risk of contracting and spreading infections to family members, verbal abuses from patients, and frequent lifting of patients. The study recommended among others that the Abia State Ministry of Health should address the productivity challenges posed by occupational hazards by implementing gender/ location-specific strategies, such as reducing nurse-to-patient ratios, implementing occupational hazards reduction programmes, improving hospital infrastructure, offering hazard prevention training, and ensuring availability of personal protective equipment.