Effects of Job Stress on Health of Saudi Nurses Working in Ministry of Health Hospitals in Qassim Region in KSA

Background: Work-related stress is a current and future issue for health and safety. Nurses are particularly at risk from stress-related problems, with high rates of turnover, absenteeism, and burnout. Aim of the Study: The study aims to explore the effects of job stress on physical and mental health of Saudi nurses working in ministry of health hospitals in Qassim region in KSA. Subjects and methods: Descriptive explorative study was used for conducting the study, a purposive sample has been used, 152 Saudi nurses were included and working in the 4 hospitals affiliated to ministry of health in Qassim region. Data collected through; nurses' socio-demographic characteristic, work characteristics, occupational stress scale and work Stress Symptom Scale. Results: Study results have shown that the most common type of work-related stress for Saudi nurses was due to job pressure followed by poor rapport with managers. Nearly half of nurses were suffering from physical and mental illnesses. Our study proved a highly statistically significant relation between mental problems and working stress and statistically significant relation between working stress, physical problems and marital status. Conclusion and recommendation: Work stress affect physical and mental health of Saudi nurses, so they need to provide continued administrative support, appropriate training programs to deal with potentially stressful conditions in the health facility.