Caring under pressure: A comparative analysis of stress levels across healthcare roles and departments

Background Work-related stress is a major concern in healthcare, where high workloads, emotional demands, and limited support increases the risk of burnout and affects productivity, mental health, and patient care. Objective This study aims to assess workplace stress levels among healthcare professionals at King Abdullah University Hospital and examine the effects on mental well-being and patient care quality. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 384 healthcare workers, including physicians and nurses from the emergency, internal medicine, and surgery departments. The Workplace Stress Scale™ (WSS) was used to measure stress levels, considering factors such as job role, department, and demographic characteristics. Results Significant associations were found between demographic variables and stress levels. Younger professionals aged 25–30 reported the highest stress levels, while those with less than two years of experience also demonstrated increased stress (p < 0.001). Participants were distributed across departments as follows: emergency (9.6%), surgery (50.8%), and internal medicine (39.6%). A significant association was observed between department and stress level (χ 2 test, p < 0.001). Physicians experienced significantly higher stress levels than nurses (mean score 7.81 ± 4.75 vs. 6.65 ± 4.63, p = 0.024). Conclusions Findings indicate a critical need for targeted interventions to manage stress, with a focus on addressing unique stressors linked to demographic and departmental factors. Enhancing support structures and stress management resources within healthcare settings is essential to improve healthcare workers’ mental health, patient safety, and overall organizational effectiveness.