Published Paper Details:

Stress related to work load is a recognized problem in health care workers. Nursing has been identified as an occupation that has high levels of stress. It was found that job stress brought about hazardous impacts not only on nurses' health but also in their abilities to cope with job demands. This seriously impairs the provision of quality care and the efficacy of health services delivery. Nursing has been identified by a number of studies as a stressful occupation. Emotional freedom technique (EFT) tapping is a mind-body method of tapping acupuncture points (acupoints) on the hands, face, and body with your fingertips while focusing on an issue or feeling you're hoping to resolve. This method may reduce stress and anxiety, improve performance, lessen cravings, and help resolve fears. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of Emotional freedom technique on stress related to work load among staff nurses working in general wards of selected tertiary care hospital of the city. Methods : The present study was based on Quantitative research approach with One group pre test post test research design. Study was conducted on 100 staff nurses working in general wards of selected tertiary care hospital of the city who were selected by using non-probability purposive sampling technique. Semi structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and standardized perceived stress scale (PSS) to assess the level of perceived stress among nurses. Data analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics to describe and show the association between stress and the variables. Based on the objectives and the hypothesis the study data were analyzed by using various statistical tests such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, t' test and chi square test. Result : The study result reveals that, majority 80% of samples having moderate stress score in Pre- test scores that has reduced to 24% in post- test after EFT. 14% of subjects were having mild stress in pre- test, which has hiked to 76%in post-test, Whereas 6% samples were having severe stress before EFT which was minimized to zero in post-test. There was a marked relapse in post EFT stress scores. The comparisons of the pre- test and post- test means scores of the stress were done by the paired t test. The pre- test average score was 18.83 with standard deviation of 4.28 whereas the post- test average score was 12.00 with standard deviation of 3.50. The test statistics value of the paired t test was 17.74 with p value 0.00. Shows that Emotional Freedom Technique intervened to reduce the severity of job stress was effective. Conclusion : The level of stress related to work load among staff nurses working in general wards reduced significantly after Emotional Freedom Technique. It is recommended that such technique has to be arranged for staff nurses to reduce stress