In the years to come stress would find more place in our lives. One has to adopt specific skills to combat stress. Stress management is of paramount importance in organizational and individual practice. From the study it is evident that if stress management programmes are incorporated in the health care profession people who are working at various levels will be able to recognise the stress factors inherent in their work place. They will learn to develop various preventive methods for mitigation of these stressors. This would help to arrest the decline in job performance, burnout, high absenteeism, reduction of efficiency, poor performance in tasks and other family related problems.

5.2. ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE OBJECTIVES

The researcher by doing this study has fulfilled the objectives of the research.

To critically review the body of literature related to Occupational Stress of Nurses

The literatures referred for the purpose of the study after defining various concepts provided a detailed explanation of the sources of occupational stress, its impacts on mental, physical and behavioral wellbeing. The reviews elaborated the symptoms and the adverse impact of occupational stress in the personal life, professional life and health of nurses, and stated that Eustress is good as far as it prompts to do better. The study also provided with various stress management techniques to improve job stress related deformities. The occupational stress among the nurses is undoubtedly identified irrespective of the country they work.

To analyze the existing occupational Stress of the nurses, its sources and its impact in their profession

By the data collected from the nurses of the hospital selected for the study proved that there is an existence of occupational stress. The age, marital status, number of family members, job enviorment, poor interpersonal relationships and inability to manage the personal and professional life contributed to the stress. The data collected proved that there is an adverse impact of occupational stress in the discharging of quality care to the service providers.

To evaluate the effectiveness of the coping strategies adopted to handle stress by the respondents

Another objective of the research was to evaluate the effectiveness of the stress management strategies adopted by the nurses and the hospital itself. The data collected and the information gathered proved that majority of the programme adopted by the nurses are not effective strategies. Therefore the strategies need to be changed. The study found that the organizational help to the nurses to manage stress is not often utilised by them due to ignorance and negligence.

To make conclusions and possible recommendations for the effective management of occupational stress of the nurses

The study pointed out that effective management of stress if possible only through a two way responsibility. The responsibility lies in individual employees and the organization itself. The last chapter of this research report made some innovative recommendations of effective stress management for the hospital management and to the nurses to overcome occupational stress.

5.3. RECOMMENDATIONS

In the first part of this chapter, the researcher outlines possible recommendations for the management of occupational stress among the nurses, based on the findings of the research. The researcher has already stated that though there are various sources of stress, an effective management of occupational stress in the hospital can only be possible from a two way initiative that is an initiative from the individual nurses and the hospital management.

5.3.1. Recommendations to the Nurses

1. The nurses need to find sufficient time to make self assessment and become aware of the instances that contribute stress in their daily life. Once it is identified they need to avoid or minimise such instances regularly. It will provide them with a stable mind and body.

2. The nurses should always look for a good support system to turn to. This support system can be from within the family or outside. After developing this support system they should be able to ask regularly for a support when they feel that they are in need of it.

3. The Nurses need to get organized by themselves. An action plan for the day or for a week will make their days more organised. This will help them to carry out and organise their duties without getting exited or worried even in a very busy day. Nurses should make it as a regular programme for themselves.

4. There is an urgent need to start utilising the facilities provided by the hospital management to engage in various extra curricular activities. The weekly and monthly gatherings arranged for the entertainment of the nurses should be participated in full attendance.

5. The study proved that development of several of hobbies help people to keep away job related stress. The nurses could make use of the available opportunities at home and at the workplace to develop various hobbies, like reading, listening to music, writing diaries etc. Engaging in meaningful activities will help them to reactivate themselves even when they are tired and shattered.

6. Engaging in regular physical exercises help to maintain a good body. It will even provide a healthy mind. The nurses need to allocate time for physical exercises like yoga and other indoor and outdoor games. There are many indoor games facilities arranged in the hostel of the nurses.

7. Membership in a healthy and well balanced social net work helps the individuals to alleviate stress. The nurses in the hospital could widen their social network which will in turn make them to more sociable. It will make them to widen the horizons of their thinking.

8. Individuals need to understand that two factors such as misunderstandings and mismanagements, are usual in any organization. The nurses should be able to take the organizational changes as part of their positive professional development. They need to get adapted to the new situation rather than remaining isolated and stubborn. This will help them to be part of a good organizational culture.

9. If stress is identified as major hindrance to the normal performance of the profession, a nurse should make personal initiative to overcome it. Once a person identifies that she or he is suffering from stress related problems, personal initiatives need to be taken to overcome it. A professional assistance from a psychiatric social worker or counsellor will help her to overcome this situation in life.

10. Certain type of reactions can bring people closer and some other type of reaction alienation. If one identifies that certain types of reactions in the daily life bring forth stressful events in life, the ways need to be changed to reduce stress. It is important to be aware that extreme reactions bring forth stress. The nurses need to be guard of their reactions to the peers, the superiors and supervisors.

11. One needs to accept changes. The nurses need to understand that hospital is an organization and it is a system that manages many individuals. So every individual interest can not be addressed with equal importance as each one has his own or her own interests. Importance should be given to the interest of the hospital when compared to the personal interests.

12. A well balanced status of personal life and professional life is mandatory to have proper management of occupational stress. For this the nurses need to make a good budgeting of family relationships and the personal expenses if there are only limited earning members in the family. A well defined job responsibilities, time allotments in the hospital duties and a due availability for the fulfilment of the family commitments are important for the smooth functioning of the life of nurses. Availability to the members of the family, husband, children, parents etc need to be duly made.

13.Role conflicts always caused stress among the nurses. The nurses should prior to the engagement of their duty need to get the answers of ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘how’ etc. Clarity in the discharge of the duties will bring less confusion. This clarity will provide job satisfaction and role clarity. This will take away the occupational stress of the nurses.

14. The nurses should give importance to their spiritual life understanding the philosophy of the profession of nursing . They need to be aware of the commitment to the patients and to the entire humanity. So a clear understanding of the goals and responsibilities of their profession, vision and mission of the hospital, and ethical responsibilities to the profession of nursing need to be properly understood. They need to find time to maintain their spiritual activities, meditation etc.

17. Developing of a good interpersonal relationship is an important factor for the nurses to have a relaxed life. A good relationship to the companions, cordial professional relationship with the superiors and supervisors are important factors in the life of a nurse. Nurses should develop good friendships with people who are not criticizing and judging but accepting you as one is.

5.3.2. Recommendatio