CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study
The Nursing profession has been known to
be an integral part of the health care system, they are needed in all
stages and levels of healthcare. The registered nurse is responsible for
implementing the physicians’ orders, such as giving medications or
changing dresses and assessing the client’s responses to the treatment
plan. The nurse is also responsible for evaluating the safety of the
medical plan of care before implementing it. Nurses critically interpret
patient information and assess data to make decisions about what
actions are needed. The nurse focuses on helping patients meet their
needs, including physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs.
This includes working with the health
care team to develop and implement the best individualised, evidence
based plan of care for the patient. Nurses are patient advocates and
facilitate optimal health, functioning and wellness in the care of
individuals, families, communities and population. Nurses play the roles
of caregivers, decision makers, communicator, manager of care, patient
advocate and teacher. The profession requires discipline, time, energy
and dedication.
The average nurse has to maintain
between Work and Lifestyle (family, health and leisure). Work life
balance is a struggle and his found in all types of professions. Part of
the struggle with work life balance is the challenge of juggling work
and personal life. People struggle with work life balance, this struggle
has been associated with increase in psychological distress, which is a
term used to describe a range of symptoms and experiences of a person
which can impact their level of functioning. Psychological distress can
result in negative views of the environment and others. Clinical
symptoms of psychological distress include physical and emotional
exhaustion, insomnia, loss in productivity, burn out, irritability,
anxiety and distraction. Previous studies on psychological distress
among nurses has shown various degrees, A Canadian study of
psychological distress showed that 37.1% had severe psychological
distress (Holden, Metha, Cunningham & Mcleod, 2001), A Taiwanese
study reported that 48% of nurses suffer from psychological distress
(Yang, Pan & Yang, 2004). Another study in Lagos reported
psychological distress ranging 3% to 71%.(Gureje & Lasebikan ,
2014).
The identified aetiological factors
implicated in psychological distress of nurses include increasing work
load, long working hours, shift and night duties, inter-professional
conflicts with other hospital professionals, psychological pressures
from relations of patients, job insecurity, inadequate resources,
shortage of other nurses, uncooperative patients and difficult
nurse-nurse relationships. The Observed consequences of prolonged
emotional distress of nurses were found to be associated with
development of disorders such as musculoskeletal illnesses,
cardiovascular diseases, anxiety depression and suicidal ideation. The
work life imbalanced and the problem it is causing for nurses who are
important cogs in the health sector demands a study. This cannot be
overemphasised due to the fact that literature on this topic is scanty
in this country and this problem is negatively affecting nurses who are
one of the primary health care givers, the problem of psychological
distress of nurses cannot be ignored.
This study will be conducted to assess
the influence or impact that work life balance has on nurses in Ile-Ife
and suggest steps to curb or reduce the problem of psychological
distress that results from it.
1.2 Statement of the problem
Over the years, studies have been
conducted in the area of psychological distress on nurses and factors
that cause it with different researches showing different causes of
psychological distress among nurses in the western world and even in the
developing world. This studies have shed light on how nurses suffer
from psychological distress and the factors that cause this distress,
this research will continue this trend of studying psychological
distress among nurses and will focus its scope on nurses in Ile-Ife an
ancient yoruba city in south-western Nigeria, hopefully bringing into
light what causes psychological distress among nurses in Ile-Ife and
seeing if work life balance has any aetiological impact on this distress
or other factors or a combination of factors.
1.3 Research questions
This study will answer the following questions
1 Does work life balance have any influence on psychological distress?
2 Will there be significant gender difference on psychological distress?
3 Do other aetiological
factors such as marital status, age, career duration and work shift have
an influence on psychological distress?
1.4 Objectives of the study
The purpose of this study is primarily to:
- Examine the influence of work balance on psychological distress
- Find out if there will be a significant gender difference on psychological distress
- Assess the impact of other variables such as increased workload and
shortage of nurses will have influence on psychological distress
1.5 Significance of the study
This study seeks to assess the influence
of work life balance on psychological distress. It will provide up to
date information about the relationship between work balance and
psychological distress. Furthermore, it will be a tool for academicians
and health care practitioners and stakeholders as it updates their
knowledge about work balance and psychological distress.
1.6 Scope of the study
This research work was conducted among
Nurses in Ile-Ife, Osun state. The study used questionnaires to elicit
responses from respondents. The study examined the influence of
Work-Life Balance on Psychological Distress among nurses.
1.7 Definition of terms
Work-Life Balance: A concept including proper prioritizing between work and lifestyle. This is the Independent variable in the study.
Psychological Distress:
Term used to describe a range of symptoms and experiences of a person’s
internal life that are commonly held to be troubling, confusing or out
of the ordinary. This is the Dependent variable in this study.