Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Rev. Res., 38(1), May – June 2016; Article No. 16, Pages: 95-101 ISSN 0976 – 044X International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research Available online at www.globalresearchonline.net © Copyright protected. Unauthorised republication, reproduction, distribution, dissemination and copying of this document in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. © Copyright pr 95 Sasmita Das 1* , Prasanna Baby 2 , Bijay K Barik 3 1 Sum Nursing College, SOA University, K8, Kalinga Nagar, Bhubaneswar, India. 2 Sri RamachandraCollege of Nursing, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. 3 Department of Medicne, IMS and Sum Hospital, SOA University, K8, Kalinga Nagar, Bhubaneswar, India. * Corresponding author’s E-mail: das.sasmita2@gmail.com Accepted on: 22-03-2016; Finalized on: 30-04-2016. ABSTRACT Nursing is an extremely taxing profession. Nurses are particularly at risk from stress-related problems, with high rates of turnover, absenteeism and burnout. Up to a certain level stress could be beneficial to the organization as it increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the employers. However, when stress becomes excessive, it may become distracting, de-motivating, and even hazardous. The study aimed to evaluate factors triggering Intensive care unit stress and its effects in novice nurses working at intensive care units in selected hospital of Bhubaneswar. Descriptive, cross sectional design utilized in the current study. Sample: 100 ICU novice nurses were included and working in two multispecialty hospitals of Bhubaneswar. Procedure: Data collected through self-structured socio-demographic questionnaires, I.C.U nursing stress scale and Stress manifestation scale of I.C.U nurses those are developed by the researchers. Validity and reliability of study were examined. Most common type of work-related stress for novice ICU nurses was due to interpersonal conflict and lack of support followed by direct patient care and inadequate knowledge and skill. Most of nurses were suffering from physical, psychological, and behavioral illnesses. Our study had shown moderately positive correlation between ICU nurses stress and physical, psychological and behavioral manifestations. High stress levels often result in burnout and turnover of employees and change of their attitudes to work. Work related stress affect physical and mental health of novice ICU nurses, so they need to provide continued organizational support, suitable training programs to deal with potentially stressful conditions in the health facility. Keywords: ICU stress factors, intensive care unit, Novice nurses. INTRODUCTION stable and productive health service system has prime significance for any country´s functioning. Nursing profession is one of the most challenging and justified in considering and investigating work-related stress, since performance turns down under stressful circumstances. In the current context, excellence and efficiency are vital for organizational survival. Consequently, stress at place of work develops a concern to organizational proprietors. Among the health care professionals, especially nurses are considered a high-risk group regarding work stress and burnout. 1 Given the widespread impact of work environment stressors on working people’s health, substantial health and economic costs, both related to absenteeism and reduced output should not be surprising. 2-3 Stress is also a significant causative factor to organizational incompetence, high staff turnover, absenteeism because of occupational stress, increased costs of health care, and decreased job satisfaction 4 . In 2004, the Canadian Federation of Nurses Union documented that 86% of nurses experienced their workplaces as stressful; 86% reported their place of work as short-staffed; 88% said they were under-resourced at work; and 91% reported heavy workloads 5 . A systematic review was performed of the causes and effects of occupational stress on nurses’ adequacy, productivity, efficiency. Results showed that a number of features of functioning pattern have been linked to stress. Aspects of the work itself can be stressful, namely work overload and role-based factors such as lack of power, role ambiguity, and role conflict threats to career development and achievement, including risk of joblessness, being underestimated and uncertain promotion hopes are stressful. Stress is associated with reduced efficiency, diminished competence to perform, a lack of concern for the organization and colleagues 6 Numerous studies have focused on work stress in nurses because they work in high-stress environment, which has unfavorable effects both on their psychological and physical health, productivity and efficacy at work, absenteeism, as well as on patients’ outcomes such as augmented mortality and patient dissatisfaction 7 . The most common negative consequences of stress are particularly the decline of performance and competence; reduce in efficiency, decreasing excellence of customers’ services, health problems, frequent absence, and accidents at work, use of alcohol and drugs, deliberately destructive behavior. A person exposed to stress at work shows an absolute collection of emotional, cognitive, behavioural and physiological responses to various harmful effects of work, work organization and working environment 8 . A descriptive explorative result have shown that the majority universal type of job-related Factors Triggering Intensive Care Unit Stress and its Effects on Registered Novice Nurses A Research Article