Assessment of the relationship between mental health and job stress among nurses

‎ One of the inhibitory factors in job stress is known to be mental health. There are several stressful ‎situations in nursing profession that could bring about problems such as dissatisfaction, low efficiency, ‎and retirement. These situations cause physical and mental problems that lead to irreversible damages ‎in nursing care. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between mental health and job ‎stress among nurses.‎ ‎ This is a descriptive study and the subjects consist of 150 nurses working in the educational hospitals ‎of Zabol University of Medical Sciences in 2009. The data were collected through anonymous ‎questionnaires, Goldberg mental health tool and Altmeyer job stress tool. The data were analyzed by ‎SPSS and descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and analytical statistics (Pearson correlation, t ‎test, analysis of variance and Tukey's test).‎ ‎ The findings showed that 57‎‏.‏‎3% of the nurses were acceptable as to the level of health and 42‎‏.‏‎7% of ‎them were exposed to impaired mental health. Job stress in nurses in 50‎‏.‏‎7%, 46‎‏.‏‎7% and 1‎‏.‏‎7% of them ‎was severe, moderate and mild. Also, the findings showed that there was a relationship between ‎mental health and job stress among nurses (P‏>‏‎0.05).‎ ‎ According to the findings of this study, to reduce the job stress, it seems necessary to pay attention to ‎the mental health of the nurses so that the quality of nursing care increases. ‎