Abstract: Objective: To investigate the work stress of nurses returning to work after the second childbirth and its influencing factors as well as the peer support system for them. Methods: 167 nurses returning to work after the second childbirth from 3 tertiary general hospitals in Fuzhou were recruited through convenient sampling and investigated using questionnaires including the general information questionnaire, Chinese Nursing Job Stress Inventory and Peer Support Scale. Results: (1) The total score of the work stress of nurses investigated was (71.54±24.89). The average score of the five dimension from high to low was: workload and time distribution (2.12±0.80), nursing profession and working property (2.10±0.74), patient care (2.05±0.76), management and interpersonal relations (1.97±0.76) and working environment and equipment (1.96±0.74). The score of peer support for nurses after the second childbirth was (67.50±27.51) and the support from peer colleagues was stronger than that of nursing managers with the difference being statistically significant (P<0.05). (2) Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that peer support, the time of return-to-work, night shift rotation, social competence and average working hours per week were statistically significant influencing factors of work stress (P<0.05). Conclusion: The work stress of nurses returning to work after the second childbirth is in the medium. It is important to take measures focusing on the influencing factors to establish a reasonable nurse scheduling system to adjust their workload, and provide more support both physical and emotional to ensure quality nursing service and patient safety.

Key words: nurses; second-child; return to work after childbirth; work stress; peer support system