Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to identify the coping styles used by nurse practitioners and determine the effectiveness of these styles in managing stress. The Roy Adaptation Model for Nursing was the theoretical framework used for this study. The research question which guided the data collection was what are the coping styles of nurse practitioners and how effective are these styles in managing the stress relative to functioning in the expanded role of nurse practitioner? The sample of convenience consisted of 72 nurse practitioners from Mississippi (30) and Tennessee (42) who completed and returned the survey questionnaire. Data were collected using the Jalowiec Coping Scale (JCS). A demographic questionnaire was used to identify variables such as age, sex, years of employment, and level of education. Major causes of work-related stress and other life stressors were determined by content analysis of two qualitative questions. Statistical analysis of the JCS included descriptive methods of quantitative responses. The most frequently used coping styles utilized by nurse practitioners were confrontive, optimistic, self-reliant, supportant, and emotive. The least used were evasive, fatalistic, and palliative. The most effective coping styles were confrontive, evasive, supportant, and palliative. The least effective were optimistic, fatalistic, self-reliant, and emotive. Additional findings revealed there was no significant correlation between the demographic variables, coping styles, and coping effectiveness. However, there was significant correlations between the coping use and the coping effectiveness scores of the nurse practitioners.

Degree

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Department

Graduate Nursing

Degree Date

8-2-1991

Publication Number

27924538

First Advisor

Sheila Adams

Document Type

Thesis

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Nursing Commons

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