Exploring the psychological status of Jordanian nurses working with cancer patients.

Aim: This study aims to explore the psychological status of nurses working with cancer patients in Jordan. Background: Literature shows that nurses face many stressors in their job, in particular oncology nurses. Some of them have psychiatric illness such as anxiety and depression. Most of the reviewed studies were conducted in developed countries, and none in the Middle East. Method: A qualitative descriptive approach was adopted, whereby interviews were conducted with 24 nurses that were selected from the oncology departments of one governmental hospital. Results: Participants identified coping with death and dying in nursing care and some cultural issues (that they encountered) as the main factors that influence their psychological well‐being, which in turn may have contributed to a reduced quality of care for patients. Conclusion: Findings indicated that the working environment within oncology is highly stressful, which might negatively affect the nurses' job satisfaction and the quality of care that they provided. Implications for Nursing Management: Findings of this study could help health care managers to understand the impact of psychological stressors on nurses' performance, and the importance of improving the psychological status of oncology nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]