This study assessed the stressors associated with nursing the critically ill and dying. One hundred seventeen nurses from a number of coronary care, cancer! other hospital units, together with hospice nurses were investigated. It was found that hospital based nurses dealing with death and dying were significantly more job dissatisfied than hospice nurses. On the other hand, hospice nurses were significantly more anxious and showed more signs of psychosomatic complaints. The implications of these findings are discussed.
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