Abstract: Submission #103

Abstract Hospital nursing is a demanding profession that often requires sustained high performance, resulting in elevated levels of psychosocial allostatic load, the cumulative “wear and tear” on the body and brain from chronic stress. Given the impact of workplace stress on nurse well-being, this study explored the prevalence of allostatic load and its effects on the psychosocial well-being of registered professional nurses employed by a South African private hospital group in Gauteng Province. It also aimed to identify nurses’ needs for psychosocial intervention programmes to mitigate these effects. A qualitative descriptive design was employed from a social work perspective. Data were collected through four focus group discussions with 23 purposively selected registered nurses. Thematic analysis guided the interpretation of findings. Results revealed that nurses experience varying levels of psychosocial allostatic load along a stress continuum. While many functioned under tolerable stress, a significant proportion showed signs of toxic stress, largely stemming from organisational pressures. Core themes included nurses’ understanding of work-related stress, personal stress responses, coping strategies, and a strong call for structured psychosocial support. This study highlights the significant burden of chronic stress in hospital nursing and the urgent need for intervention strategies that address both individual coping and systemic organisational stressors. It contributes to the broader discourse on healthcare worker well-being and reinforces the role of social work in developing tailored psychosocial interventions to support nurses in high-pressure environments.