Occupational stress (OS) occurs when job-related demands, known as stressors, cause psychological and physiological arousal, leading to deviations from normal functioning in an individual's mind and body. It arises when occupational demands are appraised as exceeding a worker's capabilities, resources, or needs. Over time, repeated exposure to stressors can negatively affect a worker's psychological, physical, and behavioral responses—known as strains—that affect both the worker and the organization. Thus, OS and the strains it can cause are a significant burden on workers across all industries. Notably, OS is a precursor to burnout; they are at opposite ends of the spectrum. This suggests that prolonged exposure to occupational stressors can lead to burnout; by focusing on preventing occupational stress, burnout can be avoided. 

Although a complete list of stressors would make for a lengthy introduction, some examples include social interactions with peers, colleagues, leadership, and administrators; prolonged sitting, standing, and other physical demands; technology use; work schedules; inadequate support from peers, colleagues, leadership, and administrators; conforming to or not conforming to group behaviors; and many, many more.

Acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs) are unquestionably necessary to the United States healthcare system's ability to provide adequate care to its diverse patient populations. Since the development of the ACNP specialty roles, approximately 6,500 Neonatal NPs (Snapp et al., 2021), 19,000 Adult/Adult-Gero ACNPs (Kleinpell et al., 2018), and 3,000 Pediatric ACNPs (Maymi et al., 2022) are practicing in the United States.

Because the existing research on ACNP OS is methodologically limited, while ACNP workforce numbers (Auerbach et al., 2020; Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023), role complexities, and responsibilities continue to increase at the same time newly certified ACNPs leave their position in ≤ 2 years (Dillon et al., 2016), a focused qualitative approach to understanding ACNP OS is essential.  

An interpretive description qualitative approach will be conducted through virtual, recorded interviews (i.e., Zoom) with hospital-based Neonatal NP, Adult/Adult-Gero ACNP, and Pediatric ACNP participants working in United States healthcare systems. 

The ACNP roles of interest for this research are those that are categorized as ACNPs. 

Fun fact: Emerging in the 1970s, the Neonatal NP role is considered the first ACNP role in the United States!

So...

• Neonatal NPs, 

• Adult/Adult-Gero ACNPs, and 

• Pediatric ACNPs 

who hold current national board certification and an active, unrestricted NP state license. 

Additionally, you must be: 

• Actively employed in an inpatient hospital setting for at least 1 year when recruited for research participation;

• Employed as an ACNP without organizational administrative functions, including scheduling, hiring decisions, ACNP fellowship program or unit administration, serving in a lead ACNP role, or other ACNP leadership roles with direct oversight and evaluation of other acute care nurse practitioners; 

• Aged 25 to 65

• You must live in the United States

• You must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English

• You must have access to high-speed internet

• You must have access to a smartphone (e.g., iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, or OnePlus), a tablet (e.g., iPad, Samsung Galaxy, Amazon Fire, or Lenovo Idea), a laptop, or a desktop computer with video chat capabilities

• You must have Zoom installed on your device (see the previous bullet point) and be proficient at joining a Zoom meeting

• You must have a primary email address where you’ll receive information related to this study, and it must not be shared with anyone else

1. Complete a brief survey with questions about your (a) age, (b) sex, (c) race, (d) geographical region, (e) years employed as an ACNP, (f) occupation setting features, (g) relationship status, and (h) highest degree obtained 

2. Participate in a virtually recorded Zoom interview lasting 1.5 to 2 hours, where you will be asked to speak freely when responding to researcher-created prompts about your occupation, occupational duties, occupational stressors, and your responses to these stressors

While this is a unique opportunity for ACNPs to take part in research on occupational stress, using an inductive method not previously employed to understand the occupational stress experienced by ACNP professionals, your participation is voluntary.

Voluntary means that you can withdraw from this study at any time. 

If you are interested and meet the criteria to take part, please email Shay K. Mitchell at mitchellsk2@vcu.edu and allow at least 24 hours to receive a response to your initial inquiry.

STUDY TITLE: Describing Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Occupational Stress and Extracting the Principal Occupational Demands: A Mixed Methods Study

VCU STUDENT INVESTIGATOR (SI):

Shay K. Mitchell, MSN, ACNPC, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP, APN

Ph.D. candidate, Biobehavioral Nursing Science 

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing

mitchellsk2@vcu.edu 

VCU PRIMARY INVESTIGATOR (PI):

Ronald K. Elswick, Ph.D.

Professor, Biostatistics

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing

rkelswic@vcu.edu