Development of a model for support of emotional labour of nurses in tertiary hospitals in Nigeria

Abstract

Experience of emotional labour by nurses reflects a stressful work environment where services are guarded by organization and professional display rules and rendered with “a-smile-on-the-face” to shield the negative effect. Poor working conditions, the nature of the nursing job, lack of (or inadequate) resources, lack of role clarity, recognition and autonomy, time constraints, long working hours; a poor referral system are some of the causes of emotional labour for nurses. To regulate their emotions, service sector workers, including nurses use surface acting and deep acting strategies to cope with emotional labour at the workplace.