Testing the stress-response sequence model in paediatric oncology nursing

The causes and intensity of role-related stress experienced by paediatric o ncology nurses, the nurses' ability to respond to the stressors, and the pr ofessional and personal consequences of those stressors for the nurses are issues of concern for administrators and staff. The concern evolves from th e anticipated relationships among stressors, the ability to cope with role- related stressors, and the expected negative outcomes such as resignation. However, the relationships among these components have not been previously measured concurrently in paediatric oncology nurses. The primary purpose of this study was to test the complete stress-response sequence model in a sa mple of paediatric oncology nurses by obtaining concurrent measures of the model's individual components: nurses' stressors, reactions, mediators, and consequences. A total of 126 nurses completed six questionnaires (Stressor Scale for Paediatric Oncology Nurses, Perceived Stress Scale, Measure of J ob Satisfaction, Organized Commitment Questionnaire, Group Cohesion Scale, and Intent to Leave) and a demographic sheet. The majority of participating nurses were married, worked full-time and had worked 5 or more years in on cology. qualitative data were analysed using a semantic content analysis te chnique. Relationships among the components of the model were examined usin g a two-stage least squares technique. The components were only weakly asso ciated and unable to explain significant variation in each other. The combi ned qualitative and quantitative data indicate that an important explanator y variable - role-related meaning - is missing in the content model.