Death Anxiety and Job Stress in Hospice and Medical-Surgical Nurses

ABSTRACT

This study compared death anxiety and frequency and severity of job stress in 30 hospice and 40 medical-surgical nurses. Death anxiety was assessed through the Templer/McMordie Death Anxiety Scale, job stress through the Gray-Toft/Anderson Nursing Stress Scale. There were no significant group differences in the death anxiety scores nor in the total scores for the frequency segment of the nursing stress scale. The medical-surgical nurses scored a significantly higher total for the severity segment of the nursing stress scale. Death anxiety correlated significantly with frequency and severity of job stress for medical-surgical nurses but not for hospice nurses. Death anxiety correlated highly significantly with death and dying as a source of stress for the medical-surgical nurses.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Barbara Bené

Barbara Bene, MSN, RN, is Captain, USAF, R.L. Thompson Hospital, Carswell AFB, Fort Worth, TX.

Martha J. Foxall

Martha J. Foxall, PhD, RN, is Associate Professor and Chair, Nursing Administration, Education, and Science Department, University of Nebraska Medical Center.