Background: A survey of literatures on nurses reveals that although a great deal of research rnhas been carried out relating to stress and coping in nurses internationally, the information in rnEthiopia is yet limited. rnObjective: This study was designed to determine Sources of occupational stress and coping rnstrategies among nurses who are working at Gondar University and Felege Hiwot Referral rnHospitals, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. rnMethodology: An institution based cross- sectional study was conducted from January to rnFebruary, 2012 G.C among nurses who work at Gondar University and Felege Hiwot referral rnhospitals. For the purpose, a total of 268 Nurses were involved in the study. Sstandardized rnself administered questionnaires including Nursing Stress Scale and Ways of Coping rnChecklist were distributed among the nurses. In order to check the clarity of the rnquestionnaires, a pilot pre test was conducted on nurses in Debark Hospital, Debark Town. rnThen the survey was conducted immediately after amending the questioners based on the rnfeedback from the pre test. Statistical analysis of the data were conducted using Statistical rnPackage(SPSS 20) for the demographic profile of the participants, the frequency of the rnadopted coping strategies and the mean scores (and standard deviation) of sources of stress. rnAnalytical statistics were done to compare relationship among variables. rnResult: rnThe greatest proportion of respondents was women (59.7%), Orthodox (97.4%), age between rn23-35(63.1%) years, had less than 5 years of experience (44%). The following stressors were rnidentified: death and dying, work load, uncertainty regarding treatment of a patient, work rnload. The most common strategy used by nurses was problem-solving and Seeking social support and Accepting responsibility and the strategy least used were escape avoidance. In rnthis study large proportion of nurses used Problem-focused approaches but an emotion-rnfocused strategy were generally less used. rnConclusionrn: rnIt was concluded that sampled nurses are stressed. They should be sent for courses on human rnbehaviour, resource management, interpersonal relation, stress management and crisis rninterventionsrn.