Stress and resilience in children's nursing: a review of the evidence.

Abstract

Stress, depression or anxiety accounts for nearly half of all work-related ill health in the UK, with the nursing profession recognised as being at increased risk of stress and burnout. While stress in nursing is linked to workload, acuity and team dynamics, children's nurses experience additional unique stressors, including caring for children who are critically ill or dying and dealing with anxious parents, secondary traumatic stress and complex interactions with families. Resilience - defined as the ability to adapt and recover from adversity - is a key protective factor, yet most existing research on this topic focuses on adult and mental health fields of nursing. This article reviews the limited literature on stress and resilience in children's nursing, highlighting gaps in the evidence, the influence of individual and environmental factors on resilience and the need for workplace strategies that promote nurses' psychological well-being. The author is undertaking a doctoral study to address these gaps and develop an evidence base tailored to this workforce.