[Personal Resources of Geriatric Nursing Staff - Results of a Cross-Sectional Study]. / Gesundheitsressourcen von Altenpflegepersonal ­ Ergebnisse einer Querschnittsstudie.

OBJECTIVES: Geriatric nursing staff are exposed to high workloads, which often lead to stress, incapacity to work and early retirement. Personal resources can help deal with work demands and can have a positive effect on health. To design tailored interventions, this study aims to identify personal resources of staff and its impact on stress levels. MEASURES: Data on 195 geriatric nurses (87.4% female, 40.1±12.2 years) were collected using a set of validated questionnaires consisting of Slesina questionnaire, Nordic Questionnaire, SF-12, personal resources (according to WHO criteria), AVEM questionnaire and the SSCS scale of the TICS questionnaire. According to the SSCS scale, nursing staff were divided into stressed and non-stressed. To further investigate potential factors influencing the development of stress, a four-step regression analysis was carried out. RESULTS: Non-stressed geriatric nursing staff felt less burdened by work-related stress factors, had fewer physical complaints, had higher physical (p<0.001) and mental well-being (p <0.001), better personal resources and healthier work-related behavior and experience. The regression analysis showed that personal resources such as satisfaction with health status, nutritional behavior, frequency of being calm and relaxed, frequency of being full of energy as well as the stress level can improve physical and mental well-being, but cannot decrease the emergence of stress in case of unhealthy work coping behavior (R²=0.760). CONCLUSION: When developing stress prevention interventions, the focus should be on strengthening personal resources. In addition, individual work-related behavior and experience patterns should be taken into account.

Identifying Individual Stressors in Geriatric Nursing Staff-A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Nurses in geriatric care are exposed to various burdens in the workplace that result in high stress levels. The perceived stress may result in a lack of professional caring and burnout. Objectives: The study aim was to identify work-related and personal factors that determine stress levels to design tailored interventions. Research design: cross-sectional study. Subjects:N = 195 geriatric nursing staff members. Measures: The survey included validated questionnaires (Trier Inventory for Chronic Stress (TICS), Health Survey Short form 12 (SF-12), Nordic Questionnaire) to identify work-related burdens, resulting stress levels and work-related behavior (AVEM). According to the limits of the Screening Subscale for chronic stress (SSCS) of the TICS, nurses were classified as stressed or non-stressed. With four-step regression analysis, main predictors for the stress level were identified. Results: The analysis revealed body postures, handling heavy loads, time pressure, deadlines and pressure to perform as the main burdens of the participants. Chronically stressed nurses showed different work patterns in comparison to nurses with lower stress levels. The regression analysis showed significance for the models including the work-related patterns and resilience aspects (step three (F (3.42) = 4.168; p = 0.010) and four (F (7.35) = 4.194; p = 0.002). Pattern B was a main factor for determining stress. The stress level determined the perceived burdens. Conclusions: Experiencing and managing stressors depends on the individual's perception, while coping patterns-especially pattern B-can be decisive. The tailored interventions to reduce stress in geriatric nurses should focus on personal patterns.