Abstract:
The Occupational stress is the physical and emotional response to a job when it
does notmatch with the employee's abilities, resources, or needs. The occupational
stress affects the behaviour of the nursing officers and it leads to a job
dissatisfaction. This study examines the relationship among variables that causes to
occur occupational stress of nursing officers in government hospitals in
Kurunegala district. The sample comprises 120 nursing officers of government
hospitals at Kurunegala district and data were collected using a structured
questionnaire. The data were analysed through SPSS and inferential statistical
methods such as correlation analysis and regression analysis were used. The results
of the research emphasize that nursing officers experience stress when they are
dealing with patients. Work-family conflict, conflict at work, lack of staff support
and work overload can be identified as the most stressful factors that increase the
level ofstress of nursing officers. It is also revealed the strategies used by nursing
officers to reduce their occupational stress. The healthcare industry is very
sensitive and nursing officers need to control their stress in order to achieve the
goal of serving society. As recommendations, religious observations and time
management strategies can be used toreduce their occupational stress.
