Changes in nursing students’ health one year after starting the nursing degree program

Abstract

Objectives: Aim 1-to describe the health status of nursing students one year after starting the nursing degree program; and Aim 2-to analyze the impact of Stress, Depressive Symptoms, Sleep Quality and Resilience on nursing students' quality of life one year after starting the a nursing degree program. Method: a longitudinal quantitative research will be done to satisfy the first aim and a methodological study to test the theoretical model proposed (Aim 2). First, all instruments will be calibrated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Data collection will be performed at two time points through validated instruments in two public Brazilian University from Sao Paulo (state), as follows: first week of classes and one year after the first data collection. ANOVA for repeated measures will be used to compare means of each construct across time. In order to understand the relationships among variables we will use Structural Equations Modeling. Data from both time points will be used to analyze the variation in quality of life and those from the first time point will be used in the analysis of the other constructs. The impact of each construct on the quality of life changes will be described. P values <0.05 will be considered statistically significant. Instrument reliability will be determined by Cronbach's Alpha. Expected Results: We intend to better understand those factors that contribute to future nurses' health. Long term this may impact work performance, work satisfaction, and patient care.