132WORK RELATED STRESS AMONG HOSPITAL-BASED NURSES IN SUB-URBAN SETTINGS IN GOMBE STATE, NIGERIAWork related stress among Nurses in Nigeria has received very minimal attention from both researchers and employers of labour. This study was designed to assess stress levels among hospital-based Nurses using a modified Nursing Expanded Stress Scale (ENSS), with a view to drawing the attention of concerned authorities. A cross-sectional exploratory study was carried out among bed side Nurses in five selected government hospitals in Gombe state, Nigeria. Modified nurses stress scale comprising nine scales and 38 subscales were administered on a convenient sample of 100 nurses. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 16 and test of significance was done with differences considered significant at p < 0.05. On a scale of four (4) the hundred nurses assessed demonstrated an overall mean stress level of 2.34. But when it was segregated among the nine subscales, Nursing stress factor 6 which comprised work load stressors was shown to be the highest (2.82) source of stress among respondents. This was followed by stress factor 1, death and dying stressors, with mean stress level of 2.78. Majority (64.6%) of respondents indicated, “Not enough staff to adequately cover the unit,” as extremely stressful - a work load stressor sub-scale with an estimated mean stress level of 3.36. Workload stress occasioned by “not enough staff to adequately cover the unit” is a serious administrative issue that demands urgent attention of government and all employers of labour.danjin67@yahoo.comResearch612016Stress,Stress,Workload,Stress scale,stressors,Stress level,NursesMela Danjin,Saidu Adamu,Steven Ribadu,Danladi AdamuSchool of Nursing and Midwifery Gombe, PMB 053 Gombe State, Nigeria,School of Nursing and Midwifery Gombe, PMB 053 Gombe State, Nigeria,School of Nursing and Midwifery Gombe, PMB 053 Gombe State, Nigeria,School of Nursing and Midwifery Gombe, PMB 053 Gombe State, Nigeria