Stress among clinical nurses and affecting factors at Military Hospital 120, Tien Giang Province, year 2023

Objectives: This study aims to determine the degree of work-related stress among clinical nurses and analyze some factors affecting clinical nursing stress at Military Hospital 120, Tien Giang province, in 2023. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design with quantitative and qualitative research. The quantitative research is conducted by surveying 159 clinical nurses using the validated DASS-21 scale. The qualitative study was conducted through 04 in-depth interviews and 1 focus group discussion with stakeholders to analyze the factors affecting nursing stress. Results: 17.6% of clinical nurses suffered from stress, with breakdowns indicating 9.4% experiencing mild, 3.8% moderate, and 4.4% severe stress levels. Notably, departments such as the Emergency Department, Psychiatry, and Intensive Care exhibit higher rates of nurses displaying signs of stress. Factors such as elevated work pressure, unclear job assignments, and work instability were associated with negative impacts on stress levels. Conversely, the hospital's salary and welfare policies, as well as planning and staff development strategies, displayed positive influences on the stress experiences of clinical nurses. Conclusions: Addressing the specific needs of female, elderly, and underprivileged nurses, particularly those in high-stress departments like Emergency, Intensive Care, and Psychiatry, is crucial. It is recommended that the hospital continues its initiatives related to salary and incentives, and staff planning while implementing tailored human resource strategies to optimize workforce allocation, clarify job roles, and organize work assignments logically and promptly. Keywords: Clinical nurses, hospital, mental health, stress.