Stress among nursing staff within an emergency department setting: The impact of service delivery to patients, recruitment practices and retention strategies in the Irish Health Sector

Objectives: The overall aim of this research was to identify and highlight the impact that service delivery to patients, recruitment practices and retention strategies have on stress within the nursing profession in the Irish Health Sector, in an emergency department setting. There are three sub-objectives within the study; the effects of stress on standards of service delivery to patients, the importance of retention in reducing stress and the impact recruitment can have on the reduction of stress. The aim was to explore these sub-objectives in the Irish health sector and identify any possible changes or recommendations for improvement. Methods: The research was conducted using a series of qualitative, semi-structured interviews with CNMs from an ED setting in the Irish health sector. Following on from interviews, the data provided would be transcribed and analysed using a thematic analytical method. Results: Five major themes were produced and evaluated as a result of the findings and analysis. These themes include staffing levels, conditions within their environment, support mechanisms, financial impact and educational opportunities. These themes were subsequently present within the three sub-objectives of the research question. Conclusion: There are many variants of stress within the ED in question, many of which are influenced by the organisation and the long-term effect of the government recruitment embargo. This study has the potential to assist further research and can also be useful for investigating issues within clinical practice