¹ Mobile Palliative Care Team, Health Centre Vukovar, Sajmište 1, Vukovar, 32000, Vukovar-Srijem County, Croatia, karolina.tutis@gmail.com

² Community Nursing Service, Health Centre of Osijek-Baranja County, Kralja Petra Krešimira IV 6, Osijek, 31000, Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia, patronazaosijek9@dzobz.hr

³ Community Services Center “Klasje” Osijek, Ružina 32, Osijek, 31000, Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia, monikabarusic1@gmail.com

⁴ Department of Internal Medicine, General County Hospital Vinkovci, Zvonarska 57; 32100 Vinkovci, 32100, Vukovar-Srijem County, Croatia, ivicaa.dujicc@gmail.com; lucija.puskaric@obvk.hr

⁵ Department of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, University Hospital Centre Osijek, Josipa Huttlera 4, Osijek, 31000, Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia, sanja.loinjak@kbco.hr

⁶ Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics, General hospital Virovitica, Ljudevita Gaja 21, Virovitica, 33000, Viroviticko-podravska county, Croatia, vilcekiva1@gmail.com

⁷ Medical School Osijek, Vukovarska 209, Osijek, 31000, Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia, apatic.renata@gmail.com

⁸ Nursing Institute “Prof. Radivoje Radić” and Department of Nursing and Palliative Medicine,  Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, J. J. Strossmayer University in Osijek, Crkvena 21, Osijek, 31000, Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia, rlovric@fdmz.hr

⁹ Faculty of Medicine Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Josip Huttler Street 4, Osijek, 31000, Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia

Abstract

Introduction: Palliative care is one of the most demanding areas of healthcare practice, where nurses are exposed to specific stressors that can affect their quality of life. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of these stressors, examine differences according to gender, educational level, and workplace setting, and explore their association with nurses’ life satisfaction.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 115 nurses employed in 35 healthcare institutions providing palliative care in Croatia. Two validated instruments were used: the Palliative Care Stress Scale and the Life Satisfaction Scale.

Results: The most frequent stressor was the inability to alleviate the pain and suffering of patients or their families (x̄ = 2.98), while refusal of care was the least frequent (x̄ = 2.62). No significant differences were found in the prevalence of stressors by gender or education (P>0.05), nor by workplace setting (P=0.740). The occurrence of stressors related to lack of skills was associated with length of service (ρ = −0.307; P<0.001), whereas other stressors were not associated with age or years of service. The overall level of life satisfaction was 3.85 (situational 4.01, global 3.82). The prevalence of stressors was not associated with life satisfaction (ρ = 0.033; P=0.726).

Conclusion: Organisational and personal resources are crucial for maintaining nurses’ well-being and quality of life in palliative care. Systematic support measures, supervision, and strengthening of the ethical climate are required to enhance staff well-being and the quality of care provided.