Stress, Coping, and Resilience of Ward Nurses in Private Hospitals in Bulacan: Implications for Stress Management

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the stress levels, resilience, and coping behaviors of ward nurses in selected private hospitals in Malolos and Guiguinto, Bulacan, to guide the development of an evidence-based Nurse Empowerment Program for stress management.Methods: A descriptive-correlational research design was employed.Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of La Consolacion University Philippines prior to data collection.A total of 114 ward nurses from participating private hospitals were selected through purposive sampling based on their direct patient care roles.Data were gathered using three standardized tools: the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC).Descriptive statistics, normality testing, and Pearson's correlation were used for analysis.Results: Most respondents were young (22-29 years), female, single, and had 1-5 years of clinical experience.The majority handled 5-10 patients per shift, and nearly all had no prior stress management training.Stress levels were generally moderate, with task-oriented and avoidance coping strategies being most frequently used.High resilience scores were reported, particularly in faith, persistence, and optimism.Pearson's r showed a moderate positive correlation between stress and coping (r = .420,p < .001), a weak but significant positive relationship between coping and resilience (r = .269,p = .004),and a non-significant negative correlation between stress and resilience (r = -.106,p = .260). Conclusion:The findings underscore the need for structured psychosocial interventions that reinforce adaptive coping and resilience, especially for young and unmarried nurses with limited experience.An evidence-based Nurse Empowerment Program is recommended to help reduce stress and strengthen psychological well-being in private hospital settings.