American Journal of Nursing Research, 2016, Vol. 4, No. 2, 34-40 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajnr/4/2/2 © Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/ajnr-4-2-2 The Relationship between Occupational Stressors and Performance amongst Nurses Working in Pediatric and Intensive Care Units Kawther Mokhtar 1 , Ahlam El Shikieri 2 , El Muntasir Taha 3 , Ahmad Rayan 4,* 1 National Ribat university, Sudan 2 Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Saudi Arabia 3 National Ribat University, Sudan 4 Zarqa University, Jordan *Corresponding author: ahmed_rayan87@yahoo.com Abstract Background: Nursing has long been considered one of the most stressful professions. Stress at the workplace may have negative consequences on nursing performance. Consequences of stress on nursing performance may become more crucial in pediatric and neonatal intensive care units where the safety of patient and quality of pediatric care are important outcomes of nursing care. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between occupational stressors amongst nurses working in pediatric care units and their performance. Design: In this descriptive study, a total of 200 nurses working in the pediatric departments from three major hospitals in Khartoum completed the study. Two tools were used to collect data including nursing stress scale and the modified Schwirn Six Dimensions Scale for Nursing Performance. Student t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Results: Overall, most of the nurses suffered from job stressors level above average. The lack of aids, resources and atmosphere in the intensive care units were rated as “high” job stressors amongst nurses. The hospital characteristics were rated “low” job stressors. Among all stressors, the lack of directors’ support was negatively correlated with the nurses' performance (P= 0.003, r= 0.21). Conclusion: Policy makers should consider development of specific programs targeting stress in pediatric and neonatal intensive care units to enhance nursing performance in pediatric units. Keywords: nurse, occupation stress, job performance, Sudan, pediatric, intensive unit Cite This Article: Kawther Mokhtar, Ahlam El Shikieri, El Muntasir Taha, and Ahmad Rayan, “The Relationship between Occupational Stressors and Performance amongst Nurses Working in Pediatric and Intensive Care Units.” American Journal of Nursing Research, vol. 4, no. 2 (2016): 34-40. doi: 10.12691/ajnr-4-2-2. 1. Introduction When people go to a hospital, they assume that they will receive quality care and that nurses are well-prepared to help them. Occupational stress is the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker [8]. The WHO defines the occupational stress as “the physiological and emotional responses that occur when workers perceive an imbalance between worker effort and associated reward". Occupational stress has become one of the most severe health problems in the contemporary world, which challenge the nurse ability to cope [28]. Nursing has been considered one of the most stressful professions. Work stress in nursing was first assessed in 1960, when Menzies identified four sources of anxiety among nurses: patient care, decision making, taking responsibility and change [23]. It is well accepted and documented that nurse’s work in a high job stress, particularly for nurses who are working in acute and specialized care units [9]. Stress in nursing is attributed largely to the physical labor, suffering and emotional demands of patients and families, work hours, shift work, interpersonal relationships (e.g. inter- and intra-professional conflict), and other pressures that are central to the work nurses do. Factors that have increased stress among nurses since the 1980s include the rising use of sophisticated healthcare technologies, budget cuts, increasing workload, and constant organizational changes in some healthcare environments [33]. Work related stress can be caused by poor management, unsatisfactory working conditions and lack of support from colleagues and supervisors. Stress occurs in a wide range of work circumstances but is often worsened when employees feel they have little support from supervisors and colleagues, as well as little control over work processes [39] Thus, work-related stress can be caused by poor work organization (the way that designed jobs and work systems, and the way that managed them, by poor work design (for example, lack of control over work processes), poor management, unsatisfactory working conditions, and lack of support from colleagues and supervisors [38].