Abstract

This study is an attempt to find stress sources of professional work among nurses in a hospice and a surgical ward. It has been stated that there are specific stress factors related to work. It has been stated that hospice nurses compared to those from the surgical ward, are different in terms of some specific stress factors related to their work. The hospice nurses experience, to of greater extent than the nurses from surgical ward, the inconveniences related to: ‘ability of career development’, ‘conflicts with superiors’ and ‘relationships with patients’ families’. Nevertheless, ‘the level of workload’, ‘ward equipment’, ‘payment’, difficulties in team work’, ‘superiors’ support’, ‘bad health conditions of patients’, ‘general stress level related to work’ and ‘sense of employment stability’ are the major stress factors among both the hospice and the surgical ward nurses. What is more, relationships with patients constitute an important stress source for both groups of nurses, however, more often experienced by hospice medical personnel. The nurses from the surgical ward meet with greater support from their friends.