Staff stress in critical care units.

Research on stress experienced by staff in critical care units has predominantly focused on the nurses; however, a small number of investigations have centred on intensivist neonatologists and paediatricians. Australian studies which have highlighted the major stressors encountered by critical care staff are reviewed. Research is reported which suggests that job satisfaction is diminished for staff working within highly stressful critical care units. Implications are discussed in order to focus attention upon the effects of high dependency stressful work environments.