Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the changes of salivary cortisol and electrolytes as an indicator of stress in nursing practice. Unstimulated 5cc saliva samples were collected at pre-duty and post-duty, and were measured with chemical assay and radioimmunoassay in nursing practice period and in studying period. In nursing practice, salivary cortisol concentration revealed lower, and K+/Na+ ratio revealed higher than in studying. And salivary cortisol correlated significantly with Na+, and also with K+ concentration. These results suggest that K+/Na+ ratio tends to be highered in student taking nursing practice, and raised levels of cortisol might be expected in nursing practice and also in studying, and that salivary constituents could indicate physiological stress. This study will facilitate a better understanding for the loading effect on the physiologic conditions of nurses.