ABSTRACT
Introduction: This study aimed to clarify the stress experienced by nurses working at hospitals in Japan through the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).Methods: A questionnaire survey that included a brief job stress questionnaire and sense of coherence (SOC) scale was administered to EPA nurses and nursing candidates.Results: Seventy-two nurses and nursing candidates responded to the survey. Overall, 79.2% of them felt confused about the differences between work in Japan and in their home country and they experienced qualitative and physical burdens as a result of their job. Female respondents rated the "suitability of the job" as relatively low, whereas male respondents rated the "degree of utilization of skills" as relatively low. Both male and female respondents received strong support from their families and friends. A correlation analysis of the data regarding female respondents indicated that occupational stress was related to how accustomed they had become to life in Japan, their Japanese language ability, quantitative burden of the job, workplace environment, and SOC.Conclusions: The study results suggested that considerations of the burden of the job, workplace environment, and improvement in SOC should be required from workplaces that accept EPA nurses.