Association between changes in occupational stress over a one-year period and communication skill scales of first-year nurses

Abstract

This study aims to longitudinally observe changes in the first-year nurses' occupational stress levels to determine periods during which they experience stress that affects their communication skill scale. The subjects were 35 first-year nurses. A questionnaire survey was conducted using the first-year nurses' occupational stress scale and a communication skill scale three times a year at 3, 6, and 11 months after employment. Changes in both scales were compared in three aspects using the Friedman test. The Spearman rank test correlation was used to determine the association between both scales. Although occupational stress tended to increase gradually, there was no change in communication skills. Occupational stress was associated with smoothness of communication skills and assertiveness. The findings suggested that occupational stress in nurses tended to increase gradually through their first year, the experience might eventually become usable to converse smoothly and provide assertive responses to questions.