Stressors and coping measures of hospice nurses.

The nursing care of the dying patient in the home setting is considered highly stressful. As the population ages, the hospice census is expected to increase and the need to attract and retain hospice nurses will be vitally important. Understanding hospice nurses' perceived stress and coping mechanisms can lead to increased retention and higher employee satisfaction. The survey presented in this article identified the perceived stressors of hospice nurses, their stress relief methods, and organizational work issues.