Perceived stress of clinical practice among associate degree nursing students in Taiwan

Abstract

Background: Clinical placements play an important role in helping nursing students to achieve clinical competence, but these placements can be highly challenging and stressful. This study aimed to examine factors associated with perceived stress of clinical practice and to investigate the effect of health status on perceived stress.Methods: This was a cross-sectional quantitative study conducted among 724 associate nursing degree students in Southern Taiwan.Results: Health status scores varied from 28–139, with an average of 68.40 (SD = 25.75). Perceived stress scores ranged from 0–95 points with an average score of 36.65 (SD ± 15.95). Factors linked to perceived stress were general health status, practice subject, practice grade, gender, and sleeping hours. The CART analysis showed health status as the most important predictor to perceived stress.Conclusions: General health status can be used as a measure to predict vulnerability to stress and to identify students who are most vulnerable.