The under-study population consisted of 285 individuals after the refusal of 10 (10/295 = 3.4%) nurses to participate.
Participants included a good representation of the General Hospital and Primary Health Facilities in the Port Sais Governorate: 36 nurses from Al Zahouer Hospital, 11 from El Masah el Bahary Hospital, 35 from El Naser Hospital, 16 from the Epidemic Hospital, 12 from the Ophtalmology Hospital, 32 from Port Fouad Hospital, 58 from Port Said General Hospital, and 85 from Primary Health Centres.
As far as the single Medical Units are concerned, 31 participants came from the ICU, 5 from the teams of Infection Control, 46 from Inpatient Department, 12 from Pediatric Department, 6 from the Blood Bank, 29 from the Emergency Department, 11 from the Operation Theatre, and 105 from Outpatient Department, and 40 from Other specialties like nurses working in Sterilization or X-Ray.
The under-study population was represented in majority by female nurses (N = 274; 96.1%) and most of participants were married (N = 258;90.5%).
Most of interviewed were staff nurses (N = 241;84.6%), followed by head nurses (N = 19;6.7%), supervisors, matrons and others with less than 5% of the total population.
Around one third of participants was working for more than 20 years (N = 102), one fifth was working between 10 and 14 years (N = 61), one fifth between 15 and 20 years (N = 59), and another one fifth was working for less than 10 years (N = 63), with only 26 nurses having worked for less than 5 years.
Almost 40% of the participants at the study felt safe in its clinical environment while around 10% completely disagree on this.
Two thirds of participants agree/strongly agreed on the issue that working environment make them feel anxious and stressed, while 10% partly agree and slightly less than 25% disagree.
Slightly more than 85% of the under-study population agree on the feeling of being part of a team when working in their clinical area.
The distribution of nurses who felt supported by their manager was balanced, with around 40% of agreement, 40% of disagreement, and 20% partly agreeing on the subject.
Almost 70% of participants reported agreement on high work load because of shortage of colleagues in the respective clinical area while almost 60% disagree on the fact they were not able to give proper care because of workload.
Almost 85% of nurse under-study reported that salary did not cover their living cost and only 13% of them believed they earned a fair salary.
Around 55% of participants has the opportunity to express their opinion on patient care, whilst 15% partly agreed on this, and 28% disagree.
When questioned on a) whether supervisor gives responsibility when appropriate and on b) whether schedule changes are accomodated, we see the same pattern as in the previous question with almost 55% agree, around 15% partly agree, and the rest of the study population disagree.
Almost 60% agree on the fact that they have regular opportunities to develop in their career.
Slightly more than 60% of participants found their job fulfilling, while only 6% partly agree and more than 35% disagree.
When asked on what they enjoyed most of their job, 142 (56.1%) nurses under study replied “helping others”, which mainly include the healing of patients; on the same matter, 64 (25%) indicated the “cooperation with colleagues” while a minority reported “love for the job” (7%), “gratitude from patients” (5%) and “others”.
Lack of gratitude and attitude of patients was the most cited answer for what the enjoyed the least (N = 49; 23%), followed by the lack of organization at work (N = 45; 21%), no reward from manager (N = 35;17%), bad cooperation with colleagues (N = 28; 13%), low salary (N = 14; 6.7%), and others.
Table 1. Questionnaire with percentage results and 95% Confidence Interval categorized into five categories for 285 nurses in Port Said, Egypt.
Questions Strongly agree Agree Partly agree Do not agree Definitely disagree
|
%
|
95% CI
|
%
|
95% CI
|
%
|
95% CI
|
%
|
95% CI
|
%
|
95% CI
|
Feel safe when working in my clinical environment
|
8.1
|
5.4–11.9
|
39.6
|
34.1–45.5
|
10.1
|
7.1–14.3
|
32.2
|
27.1–38.0
|
9.8
|
6.8–13.9
|
Working environment makes me feel anxious and
stressed
|
23.1
|
18.6–28.4
|
43.8
|
38.2–49.7
|
10.2
|
7.1–14.3
|
20.7
|
16.4–25.8
|
2.1
|
0.9–4.6
|
In my clinical area I feel I am part of a team
|
20.7
|
16.4–25.8
|
64.5
|
58.8–69.9
|
4.9
|
2.9–8.1
|
8.4
|
5.7–12.3
|
1.4
|
0.5–3.7
|
I feel supported by the manager
|
7.4
|
4.8–11.1
|
33.7
|
28.4–39.4
|
14.7
|
11.1–19.4
|
35.4
|
30.1–41.2
|
8.8
|
6.0-12.7
|
My work load is too high because not enough
nurses in my clinical area
|
31.7
|
26.5–37.4
|
37.3
|
31.8–43.1
|
5.3
|
3.0-8.6
|
23.6
|
19.0-28.9
|
2.1
|
0.9–4.6
|
I cannot give proper care because too high work
load
|
10.9
|
7.7–15.1
|
21.7
|
17.3–26.9
|
9.8
|
6.8–13.9
|
50.1
|
44.3–56.0
|
7.4
|
4.8–11.1
|
My nursing salary covers my living cost
|
0.7
|
0.1–2.8
|
9.1
|
6.3–13.1
|
5.6
|
3.4-9.0
|
38.6
|
33.1–44.4
|
46.0
|
40.2–51.8
|
I believe I get a fair salary
|
1.4
|
0.5–3.7
|
12.0
|
8.7–16.3
|
6.3
|
4.0-9.8
|
37.7
|
32.2–43.5
|
42.6
|
36.9–48.5
|
I have the opportunity to express my opinion on
decision about patient care
|
8.1
|
5.4–11.9
|
49.1
|
43.3–54.9
|
14.7
|
11.1–19.4
|
22.8
|
18.3–28.1
|
5.3
|
3.2–8.6
|
My supervisor gives me responsibility when
appropriate
|
9.5
|
6.6–13.5
|
47.4
|
41.6–53.2
|
13.3
|
9.8–17.8
|
27.7
|
22.8–33.2
|
21.0
|
0.9–4.6
|
When I request changes to my work schedule, these
can usually be accomodated
|
9.8
|
6.9–13.9
|
47.5
|
41.7–53.4
|
12.3
|
9.0-16.7
|
25.3
|
20.6–30.8
|
4.9
|
2.9–8.2
|
I have regular opportunities to develop my career
|
10.2
|
7.1–14.2
|
49.1
|
43.3–54.9
|
9.1
|
6.3–13.1
|
25.3
|
20.5–30.7
|
6.3
|
4.0-9.8
|
My job is very fulfilling
|
13.3
|
9.8–17.8
|
44.6
|
38.8–50.4
|
6.3
|
4.0-9.8
|
17.2
|
13.2–22.0
|
18.6
|
14.5–23.6
|