ABSTRACT
Multiple structural factors preside over burn units influence nurses' quality of care and their activities. The complexity and multi-dimensional nature of nursing care in these units, creates many challenges. Understanding the perspectives of people's involved is recommended. This study, with a theory-to-research approach, was conducted to assess the frequency of confronting intra and extra organizational factors preside over burn units, the intensity of its related pressure, and correlations among these variables from nurses' perspectives. In this cross-sectional, correlational study, 98 nurses working in the Shahid Mottahari burn center were recruited by census. Data was collected using the intra and extra organizational factors instrument, provided based on the previous grounded theory study of the researchers. Intra-organizational factors questionnaire consisted of 58 Likert type statements in eight subscales and two dimensions of frequency [alpha=0.94] and intensity [alpha=0.96]. Extraorganizational factors questionnaire consisted of eight Likert type statements [alpha=0.74]. Data were analyzed using the SPSS version 14. The results revealed that the frequency of nurses' confrontation with factors related to environment and patients as well as its intensity were more than other factors. Moreover, the intensity of the whole factors was more than its frequency. All the extra- organizational factors were significantly correlated with all intra-organizational factors except for the "absence of employment permission" [P<0.05]. This study explained the importance of intraorganizational factors of a burn center in inducing stress on nurses. In addition to verification of some relationships in the previous mid-range theory, the results of this study also modified some of its aspects. Therefore it added to the existing body of knowledge about organizational factors and job stress in burn units. Moreover, it produced some evidences to use in nursing administration and service, and finally it resulted in some directions to control stress in nurses' job