Work

Stress and fatigue in nurses in critical care units and their association with salivary cortisol

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the association between stress, fatigue and salivary cortisol levels in nurses working in emergency units (EU) and surgical units (SU). METHODS: cross-sectional study conducted in two university hospitals with participation of 66 nurses. The Nursing Stress Inventory and the Fatigue Assessment Scale were applied, and saliva samples were obtained to determine cortisol concentration. RESULTS: high levels of stress and fatigue were observed in 50.8% and 46% of the professionals, respectively. Nurses in EU had higher levels of stress and fatigue and lower secretion of salivary cortisol during the work shift compared to nurses in the SU, without statistical significance. Cortisol secretion in the morning period was correlated with fatigue (ρ=0.25 and p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: the results suggest a dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in nurses from the EU and a significant correlation between fatigue and cortisol secretion in the morning period.

Source: Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem

DOI: 10.1590/0034-7167-2024-0282

Authors: Dnieber Chagas de Assis, Deisy Vivian de Resende, Robinson Sabino-Silva, Maria Helena Palucci Marziale

Institutions: Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Universidade de São Paulo

Language: English

Topic: Occupational Health and Burnout

Subfield: Occupational Therapy

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $247