Browsing by Author "Kamau, Nyambura Janet"

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    Correlates of Stress and Coping Mechanisms among Nurses in the Critical Care Units, Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya
    (Kenyatta University, 2025-09) Kamau, Nyambura Janet
    Background: Critical Care Units (CCUs) usually admit patients who are critically ill and have life-threatening conditions. When sudden patient deaths occur, it can negatively impact their psychological well-being and health. Aim: To determine the correlates of stress and coping mechanisms of nurses in the critical care units at Kenyatta National Hospital. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional analytical design was adopted, and from May to June 2022, convenience sampling was used to recruit 149 nurses. A self-reporting questionnaire with four sections on social demographic factors, Perceived Stress Scale, causes of stress, and Brief Coping Inventory was utilized. The Stata software was used to analyze data. Descriptive statistics and data were presented in tables, charts, and graphs. Spearman correlation, Wilcoxon rank test, and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to analyze the relationship between variables. The Researcher received approval from Kenyatta University's ethical and research Committee, the National Commission for Science, Technology, and Innovation, and Kenyatta National Hospital/the University of Nairobi Ethics Research Committee. The guidelines for preventing COVID-19 were adhered to during the data collection process. Results: The Majority (87.8%) of CCU nurses had moderate stress levels. Work-related stress was the most common cause, with an overall mean of 2.34±0.36, and positive coping mechanism was the most utilized mechanism by nurses, with a mean of 5.35±1.27. There was a significant positive correlation between stress levels and avoidant coping mechanisms. Also, the findings revealed a significant relationship between coping mechanisms and critical care training, plus Education Level. Conclusion: The stress levels of nurses in the critical care units were moderate due to poor coping mechanisms. The KNH hospital should host more workshops/training sessions on work-related stress and its management techniques. These will encourage an inclusive and diverse environment for active discussion on any concerns found in the clinical setup and how to address them.