MS

thesisThe purpose of this study was to apply the Person-Environment fit model to the role of the head nurse to: (1) discover if a significant relationship exists between P-E fit and job stress among head nurses on Nursing; units in acute care hospitals; (2) correlate selected objective demographic variables with P-E fit and job stress; (3) identify major job stressors of the head nurse role; and (4) determine the relationship of job stress to specific physiological and psychological strains. A significant linear relationship was not established between P-E fit and job stress. The results were, in fact curvilinear, and tended in the direction that as P-E misfit increased job stress increased. Pearson product moment correlation revealed that P-E fit/misfit was not significantly correlated with any control variables such as head nurse age, length of time in the position, length of time practicing Nursing;, size of hospital, size of unit and type of unit. Job stress, however, was significantly correlated with nurse's age, time in position, hospital size, and years practicing Nursing;. A significant relationship was not established between types of unit and either job stress of P-E fit. Regression analysis revealed that of the major study variables, age, hospital size, years practicing Nursing;, and length of time in position accounted for 25% of the variation in job stress. Job stressors for the head nurse were explored and evaluated, both singly and as they altered when modified by the variable of frequency. It was also discovered that psychological strains of depression, feeling burned out, and fatigue were significantly correlation with both P-E fit/misfit and job stress. Physiological symptoms of abdominal distress, headaches, indigestions, colds, and constipation were significantly related to job stress, while having headaches were significant with P-E fit/misfit. This study only initiated the investigation of the application of the person-environment fit model to the role of the head nurse. It leaves open many questions including: 1. How much job stress is distressful and how much is unstressful? 2. Are head nurse job stresses different depending upon clinical specialty? 3. What variables not examined in this study might also explain head nurse job stress or variance? 4. What are other measures of physiological strains which would help in the understanding of these symptoms? 5. What is needed to better understand psychological strains? 6, What are behavioral strains and their relationship to head nurse job stress and person-environment fit/misfit as seen in replication research