Evaluation of work related stress and job satisfaction levels of surgical and internal medicine nurses

Purpose: This study aims to compare the work related stress levels and job satisfaction levels of surgical nurses with internal medicine nurses. Material and Methods: This declarative research has been perofmed with a sample of 110 nurses who work in the surgical and internal medicine units of a university hospital. Data has been collected by performing a survey that has been prepared according to the demographic and occupational status of participants. Additionally, measurements of work stress levels and job satisfaction have been used to collect data. Results: Average scores for work related stress, inner satisfaction, outer satisfaction and general satisfaction of participants were 40.97 +/- 9.02, 40.50 +/- 7.82, 25.03 +/- 5.71 and 65.53 +/- 13.20 respectively. Surgical nurses had less work related stress levels than internal medicine nurses (37.10 vs 45.28). Also, surgical nurses had higher levels of inner satisfaction, outer satisfaction and general satisfaction. A significant association was found between the unit and the work conditions. 45.7% of the participants who do not like their work environment were surgical nurses, whereas the remaining 54.3% were internal medicine nurses. Conclusion: This study revealed that the participating nurses have high work related stress and low job satisfaction in general. On average, surgical nurses had less work related stress and higher inner satisfaction than internal medicine nurses. The majority of the nurses who do not like their work environment were internal medicine nurses.