Exposure to stress: Occupational hazards in hospitals; NIOSH publication 2008-136, 7/2008

Summary

Occupational stress has been a long-standing concern of the healthcare industry. Studies indicate that healthcare workers have higher rates of substance abuse and suicide than other professions and elevated rates of depression and anxiety linked to job stress. In addition to psychological distress, other outcomes of job stress include burnout, absenteeism, employee intent to leave, reduced patient satisfaction, and diagnosis and treatment errors. The purpose of this brochure is to reveal the sources of occupational stress, identify the adverse health effects of occupational stress, and recommend work practices to reduce occupational stress.