1.

Introduction
1.1 Aim

The aim of this report is to investigate the causes of the stress of Australian Registered Nurses and how this affects their performance in providing patient care. The purpose of this study is to provide recommendations to the Department of Health and to the Australian Nursing Federation in order to minimize and improve stressful experiences to improve nurses health and patient care. This study will also target hospitals to be aware of nurses experiences.

1.2. Background
Stress according to Merriam-Webster dictionary is a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation. Stress is also any situation in which internal demands, external demands, or both are appraised as taxing and exceeding the adaptive or coping resources of an individual or group. (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). Stress now more than ever is part of our lives. We experience stress everyday and it is inevitable not to experience one. Stress affects each individual, especially in the workplace. It greatly influences the performance of nurses negatively, which jeopardizes the quality of care given to patients. Stress is one of the major reasons why nurses fail to function in the workplace effectively. (Kendrick, 2000) Currently, Australia faces a severe shortage of

nurses (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2005). Additionally, the current workforce comprising the nursing profession also changed the nurses roles and responsibilities. The decreasing number of nurses meant the increasing job demand from them. International nurses coming to Australia to work also experience stress because of cultural differences and language barriers, which largely contribute to the stress they experience on the actual duty. As a consequence of this, there is a need to identify the contributory factors of nurses stress and to address the issue to limit the severity of future impact to the nursing and health care profession in general.

1.2

Scope

The study will focus on Registered nurses in Australia both in the hospital and non-hospital setting. Past and present survey among registered nurses both from the urban and rural areas will be examined and analyzed.

1.3 Methodology
This report will review and examine literature reviews as well as research studies from previous research studies from nurses of different areas of specialization, psychiatry, critical care and palliative care respectively.This study will utilise academic studies from the EBSCOhost database. Other research studies from experts will also be used and incorporated.

1.4

Plan

After the identification and examination of the major causes of the problem, conclusion will be presents followed by relevant recommendations.