Inventory of Stressful Events

Description

This measure, (Inventory of Stressful Events) developed and validated by Motowidlo, Packard, and Manning (1986), uses 45 items to measure the frequency of stressful occur­rences in a job. The instrument was originally developed for nurses and the items were derived from interviews in a variety of clinical areas in several hospitals. Thus, they contain wording specific to the hospital context. Respondents are asked to indicate how often stressful things happen in per­ forming a job.

Reliability

Coefficient alpha value was .88 (Fox & Dwyer, 1995; Fox, Dwyer, & Ganster, 1993).

Validity

The frequency of stressful events was positively correlated with psychologi­ cal distress, quantitative workload, qualitative workload, self-monitoring, and somatic complaints. The frequency of stressful events correlated nega­ tively with job satisfaction,job performance, and job control (Fox & Dwyer, 1995; Fox et al., 1993).

Source

Items

Respondents are asked, “How often does this generally happen to you?” Responses are obtained on a 4-point Likert-type scale where 1 = never and 4 = fairly often. Responses can also be obtained for the same 45 items asking.

the question “How stressful is or would this be for you?” and obtaining responses from 1 = not at all stressful to 5 = extremely stressful.

How often do these things generally happen to you in your job?

1. You fall behind in your regular duties because you have extra work that is not part of your daily routine
2. You are so busy you have to pass up a chance to talk to a patient and give him or her some emotional support
3. Another nurse calls you away from important work for a trivial matter
4. A patient complains to you about the food or other things not under your control
5. Your head nurse or supervisor disagrees with your judgment about a patient’s treatment or condition
6. A doctor is verbally abusive toward you
7. You perform work that should have been done by your head nurse
8. Your regular head nurse is temporarily absent from the unit when you need help
9. A doctor becomes angry at you for something that is not your fault
10. Your work is interrupted by delays caused by other units or departments
11. You have so much to do that you have to leave some things undone
12. You are unable to contact a doctor in an emergency
13. You have to make an extra trip for special supplies because a doctor changed his or her mind about a medical procedure
14. A doctor wastes your time by having you perform non-nursing tasks
15. A doctor becomes upset with you for taking too long to do something
16. Your unit is short-staffed because someone called in sick
17. A doctor does not accept your suggestions regarding a patient’s condition or treatment
18. Your head nurse or supervisor assigns a lighter workload to a co-worker
19. A doctor contradicts hospital rules or standard nursing procedures which you were following with a patient
20. A patient under your care refuses to accept medication or other treatment
21. You have to explain the behavior of a doctor to a patient or the patient’s family
22. A patient criticizes your nursing care
23. You have to do extra work because another unit or department did not do their own work properly
24. A patient becomes verbally abusive with you
25. Another nurse is angry or rude with you
26. You disagree with the patient care ordered by a doctor
27. You see a doctor act rudely or inconsiderately toward a patient
28. You see another nurse relaxing and taking it easy while you are very busy
29. A patient under your care refuses to eat a meal
30. Another nurse’s negligence makes it difficult for you to perform your own work properly
31. Visitors are verbally abusive or rude toward a patient under your care
32. Your head nurse or supervisor gives you incorrect information pertaining to patient care
33. Another nurse will not fill in for you so you can take a day off
34. Your head nurse or supervisor refuses your request for time off or a change in your schedule
35. A patient under your care refuses to stay in bed
36. A patient under your care purposely removes his or her dressings
37. You have so much to do that you have to work overtime
38. You need medical equipment or supplies that are not available in your unit
39. A doctor publicly criticizes your nursing care
40. A patient tries to harm himself or herself while under your care
41. You hear another nurse complaining about the workload
42. Another nurse criticizes your nursing care
43. You have to use a piece of equipment or perform a nursing procedure that is new to you
44. A patient’s family or visitors criticize your nursing care
45. A patient reports you to a doctor or a nursing supervisor