Keywords :
Job stress, Coping strategy, Job quality index, Human resource development

ABSTRACT
Job stress in the nursing profession has been a global problem. The success in delivering quality patient care depends on the efficiency and motivation of the nursing personnel. This study attempts to evaluate the relationship between job stress, coping strategy, and job quality index. Data collected using the questionnaire from 60 nurses in two selected hospitals in different areas. The results show majority of staff were in the age group of 36-45 (50%) and 36.66% of them are 25-35 and only 1.67 % in the age group below 25years. Maximum number of the staff (58) were diploma holders. Three fourths of the staff nurses are working in the general wards (75%) Majority of the nurses expressed severe job stress (63%) and 37% expressed moderate job stress. Majority of the nurses expressed the use of active coping strategies and few use avoidance coping strategies like blame someone else (8.33%), sleep more than usual (5%), and eat more (1.33%). There is strong negative relation between Job stress and coping (r= -0.920) and variables of job quality indexes like time and support (r= -0.624), Work environment (r= -0.538). This indicate that when active coping increases, job stress decreases and improvement in time and support will decrease the Job stress experienced by the nurses. There is a positive relationship between coping strategy and organizational support, and support from the nursing service. Motivation will help to improve the work environment thereby decrease the job stress (r =-5.38).