Work Engagement and Psychological Stress among Nurses at Tertiary Level Hospitals in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Work engagement is a positive and satisfactory mental state related to work, based on three dimensions: vigour (high energy levels and mental endurance), dedication (work involvement, enthusiasm, and challenge by work), and absorption (total concentration at work). The word stress generally represents the feeling when one is jammed with a problem that one is unable to handle. The global prevalence of workplace stress among nurses is around 9%–68%. In Bangladesh, most of them (94.6%) had low stress and 5.1% had high stress. Objectives: The study aims to examine the relationship between work engagement and psychological stress among nurses working at tertiary-level hospitals. Methods: A descriptive correlational study was conducted among 112 Nurses who were selected from the National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital (NIMH), Dhaka, Kurmitola General Hospital and Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Hospital Uttara, Dhaka. by using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaires including a Socio-demographic questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale from July 2022 to June 2023. After data collection, it was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: There was a significant negative correlation between work engagement and psychological work stress. Conclusion: The study findings of the current study will contribute to the nursing profession by facilitating the positive factors to a healthy working environment that fosters work engagement.