This research is focused on the influence of stress on Nursing Staff of a Private Hospital from an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) perspective. Stress amongst Nursing Staff in a Private Hospital has been researched from an EAP perspective. Specific focus was placed on the reason for job stress, the impact of stress on nursing staff, the handling of stress and burnout. EAP`s have been discussed in respect of the purposes and aims of EAP`s, different models of EAP`s, the advantages and disadvantages of different models have been discussed, the functions of EAP`s as well as the standard elements of EAP`s. Lastly focus has been on the operational functioning of EAP`s and stress management of EAP`s. The empirical research has been conducted by means of self-constructed questionnaires which were hand delivered. The findings show that the stress experienced by nursing staff in a private hospital has been identified as well as the extent to which stress influenced their job functioning. Recommendations made, include inter alia, that EAP`s must be made internally available to the Private Hospital in order to assist nursing staff with the handling of stress, stress-relief programmes, support groups as well as stress handling programmes. / Dissertation (MSD (EAP))--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Social Work and Criminology / Unrestricted