Initially the nurses were concerned about their competence in the new job. Still later they felt they had mastered the job and were indifferent because they did not receive enough positive rewards for their work. Those still in the unit after 3 years had developed a number of coping mechanisms such as humor and tolerance. Burn Units Koran et al. Potential Health Effects Stress has been associated with loss of appetite, ulcers, mental disorder, migraines, difficulty in sleeping emotional instability, disruption of social and family life, and the increased use of cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs.
Stress can also affect worker attitudes and behavior.
Some frequently reported consequences of stress among hospital workers are difficulties in communicating with very ill patients, maintaining pleasant relations with coworkers, and judging the seriousness of a potential emergency. Other important stress factors include job specialization, discrimination, concerns about money, lack of autonomy, work schedules, ergonomic factors, and technological changes. These factors are discussed briefly in the following subsections. Job Specialization Increased job specialization has made it more difficult for workers to move to higher positions in the hospital. Specialized jobs are stressful and involve a higher rate of occupational injuries such as back strain and dermatitis.