Abstract
Background: In a demanding work environment, nurses face significant occupational stress, which negatively impacts job satisfaction, self-efficacy, and patient care quality. To address this, the study investigated the effectiveness of a continuing professional development (CPD) program titled “Combating Occupational Stress,” utilizing a blended learning approach through a flipped classroom model.
Methods: This one-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study was conducted in an educational hospital in Tabriz in 2023. It involved 30 nurses from internal and surgical wards, selected via convenience sampling. The program consisted of six sessions over three weeks, focusing on strategies to combat occupational stress. The Nursing Stress Scale was administered before and after the intervention to assess stress levels, while a standard satisfaction questionnaire evaluated the effectiveness of the educational strategy.
Results: Results showed that nurses had a high level of occupational stress before the program (199.1±4.34). Post-intervention, there was a significant reduction in stress across all dimensions, with a mean score of 86±3.1 (P<0.001). Additionally, 80% of participants reported high satisfaction with the educational approach.
Conclusion: These findings underscore the positive impact of innovative health education programs on reducing job stress among nurses, enhancing their ability to manage occupational challenges. The study advocates for the adoption of modern teaching methods and technologies tailored to nurses’ educational needs, promoting a supportive work environment that improves professional development, patient care, and overall health system effectiveness.