Occupational stress and burnout in the nursing profession. A model for prevention.

1. Work overload, lack of control over one's work, non-supportive work environment, limited job opportunity, role ambiguity, rotating shift work, and machine paced work are occupational stressors that have been suggested as factors contributing to psychological disorders. 2. The model of occupational stress defined in this article utilizes organizational social support and coping strategies as buffering agents with the potential to decrease occupational stress and burnout. 3. Although this model and suggested methods for measurement of components in the model were developed for the investigation of stress in health care populations, the model can be applied to other work settings.