JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Nursing is a highly stressful profession, requiring continuous emotional regulation. Poor anger management can negatively impact patient care and interpersonal relationships. Benner’s Novice to Expert Theory suggests that work experience enhances clinical and psychological skills, yet the relationship between experience and anger management in nurses remains unclear.

Objective:

This study aimed to examine the association between work experience and anger management among nurses based on Benner’s theoretical framework.

Methods:

A cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2024 among 265 nurses working in hospitals affiliated with Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2). Pearson correlation, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and linear regression were used for data analysis.

Results:

The mean age of participants was 35.21 ± 9.01 years, and 66.6% were female. Nurses were categorized into five experience levels based on Benner’s model: novice (12.1%), advanced beginner (28.3%), competent (34.9%), proficient (17.3%), and expert (7.4%). Mean anger management scores improved with increasing experience, ranging from 121.4 ± 15.8 in novices to 142.7 ± 9.3 in experts. However, Pearson’s correlation test showed a weak negative correlation between experience and anger management (r = -0.079, p = 0.18), indicating no statistically significant association. Additionally, shift type and job security emerged as significant predictors of anger control, with rotational shifts and job insecurity being associated with poorer emotional regulation.

Conclusions:

Work experience alone does not significantly enhance anger management skills in nurses. Factors such as shift schedules and job security appear to have a greater influence on emotional regulation. Healthcare institutions should implement stress management programs and stable work policies to support nurses’ emotional well-being. Further longitudinal studies are recommended to assess long-term changes in anger management across different career stages.