Investigating the Effects of Occupational Stress on Nurses Working in Referral Hospitals in Botswana to Reduce Health Risk

The incidence of work stress among nurses is a persistent issue. This qualitative study was carried out to examine the problems that nurses experience in providing basic health care at Botswana referral hospitals. The study was presented as a qualitative research approach. Three referral hospitals: Princess Marina Hospital, Nyangabwe Referral Hospital, and Sabrana Psychiatric Hospital were chosen for this study. Ten management officers from the three referral hospitals with the necessary and appropriate experience were purposefully sampled in order to generate the required data via questionnaires and interviews. An inductive thematic data analysis was then used, the researchers attentively examined the data to uncover common themes and patterns that appear frequently. The intended study objectives were obtained by focusing on the preceding sampled data from management officers in referral hospitals: to identify challenges faced by nurses in the delivery of basic health care services and to recommend strategies that can be used to address challenges faced by nurses in the delivery of basic health care services. The overall findings of this study emphasized three themes that developed from the interviews: the obstacles faced by nurses in the delivery of essential health care services, which are: a lack of manpower, a lack of staff and accommodation, low wages, and a terrible working environment. The researchers finished by providing a conceptual model that may be employed as an intervention technique in the workplace to help with occupational stress. Keywords: Occupational Stress, Stressors, Stress, Nurses.