Problem Statement The contemporary working environment is characterized by stress. In all professions, people experience stress as a result of the demands of their works. Equally, nurses experience stress as a result of the demands of their job. Consequently, this affects their performance. Findings of previous studies indicate that stress levels of nurses have increased in the last decade and that this has been implicated on their performance. Moustaka and Constantinidis (2010) point out that stress has been increasingly affecting nurses in the last decade. Although some causes of stress are specific to the institution and the role and type of work, it has been identified that other roles are general. They argue that, “High levels of stress result in staff burnout and turnover and adversely affect patient care” (p. 1). Therefore, it is evident that stress could lead to underperformance that would affect the way patients receive care and management of their conditions. Considering this, it is therefore necessary that the causes of stress are identified. By understanding the causes of this stress, policy makers can design appropriate means of reducing the stress level and hence implicating positively on the performance of the nurses which would result to improved patient care. The study will hence focus on the main causes of stress among practicing nurses. Stress leads to poor performance by nurses. This leads to inadequate care for patients. Consequently, it leads to further complications that require much input in terms of time and finances. In addition, there is increased physical, psychological and emotional pain to patients. Research Objectives Given the impact of stress on the overall wellbeing of patients, this study intends to identify the overall stress level among nurses. Then, the study will try to pinpoint specific causes of stress among practicing nurses. Specific objectives of this study include identifying whether there is a relationship between other factors at home and workplace stress. Research Questions To attain the mentioned objectives, the following questions will be necessary. First, given the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale, how many nurses score beyond the 300 mark? This question will assist in identifying the stress level of individual nurses and the overall institutional or role level. What factors in their lives do they find most pressing and occupying most of their thoughts? This question is necessary because it will identify the main causes of stress by the specific individuals. Do other factors outside the workplace have impact on the performance of the nurse? This question is important because it will assist in identifying role of work specific stress factors and other factors that do not work specific. Significance and rationale As argued earlier by Moustaka and Constantinidis (2010), stress has been increasing among nurses for the last one decade. Unfortunately, increase in stress means decrease in performance. It is therefore necessary to identify the main causes of stress so that a solution can be defined from these revelations. It is necessary to know a cause to find a solution. Literature Review Clancy and McVicar (2002) argue that workplace stress can be defined in terms of the perception of demand and the perception of their capacity to meet these demands. When there appears a mismatch between these two, the individual’s threshold becomes overstepped hence stimulating a response to the situation. Consequently, an individual’s chances of being stressed depend on the capacity of the threshold. This can be determined by his characteristics, the experiences that he has undergone in life, and the context of the demands. Given this argument, it is thus not true to argue that a single factor might act as a stressor in all nurses. Neither can a single factor be a stressing factor for a nurse at all time (MacKenzie, 2002). In their argument on the effect of stress on performance, Healy and McKay (1999) argue that not all stages of stress can be detrimental. They emphasize the transition point that leads to severe distress. At this point, they argue, is where most detrimental and work inhibiting qualities of the nurse begin to appear. They conclude by highlighting the importance of identifying factors that promote transition. Being the most dangerous stage of stress, identifying factors that promote it would enable policy makers design ways of avoiding these factors. Consequently, fewer nurses will be subjected to these factors leading to fewer instances of severe stress and hence increased productivity. In their argument, Plant, Plant and Foster (1992) argue that stress is an aspect that should be approached as a continuum. He identifies the four steps as psychological or physical indicator; this is the event that leads to excitement or fear. This leads to the second step which is eustress. This involves the increase in arousal or mental acuity. From this step, there is distress which is the third step of the continuum. This is the result of the reaction to mental acuity or arousal. It includes signs of emotional inclinations like unease, emotional instability, sadness, apprehension, fatigue, increased levels of alcohol consumption and smoking. This leads to the final step of the continuum, severe distress. This leads to burnout. McGowan (2001) and Tyler & Ellison (1994) point out to the role of this continuum to an individual’s performance. In his argument, he argues that problems with performance start from the transition point between distress and severe distress. It leads to chronic absenteeism, poor health outfit, problems in retention of staff (Phillips, 1996). Smith, Brice, Collins Mathews and McNamara (2000) point out on the importance of identification of stressing factors. In their argument, they purport that any stress intervention approach by any organization must be in position to identify the root cause of stress. Given the unpredictability of the nature of stressors in nursing, it is however difficult to identify the stressing factors in general. This finding is echoed by Healy and McKay (1999) who stress on the important role played by the transition to severe distress. They argue that the best stressors whose intervention can lead to reduction of stress level are those that lead to transition to severe distress (Smith & Gray, 2001). Fre