Sources of Stress and Coping Behaviors among Nursing Students Throughout Their First Clinical Training

Abstract

Introduction Clinical training allows nursing students to acquire and strengthen their psychomotor abilities, which is an important component of nursing education. The clinical components of nursing training programs were much more demanding than the academic ones. Purposes The purpose of this study was to examine sources of stress-related and coping behaviors during first clinical training among nursing students in the Arab American University. Methods The study was cross-sectional and conducted with a convenience sample of 266 participants of nursing students. Data collection was performed by “Perceived Stress Scale and the Coping Behavior Inventory.” The data were analyzed by using the descriptive, that is, frequency and percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Results The results revealed that the perceived stress mean was 41.2 ( SD = 19.5). The main stressors were taking care of the patients ( M = 11.4 ± 0.85) and teachers and nursing staff ( M = 8.32 ± 5.3). Coping behaviors mean was ( M = 29.0 ± 15.2). The main coping behavior was problem-solving ( M = 9.5 ± 5.6). Conclusion The study confirmed that students perceived moderate levels of stress in their first clinical training, and the most common sources of stress were taking care of the patients and teachers and nursing staff. However, the main coping behavior was problem-solving.

Stressors and Coping Strategies as Perceived among Nursing Students during Related Learning Experience (RLE)

“…Students may be able to benefit from this coping strategy through activities that facilitate proper physiological functioning such as eating healthy foods and instituting adequate rest and sleep patterns. Similar results were observed in the study of Toqan et al (2023), that revealed a combination of problemsolving and avoidance, both of which are interpersonal, as well as optimism which is an intrapersonal coping strategy were occasionally utilized by students to manage stressors. While transference behaviors like feasting a deep sleep, relaxing by watching TV, taking a shower, exercise, etc.…”

“…Similar findings of Shdaifat et al (2018) point out that nursing students experience a moderate level of stress because of their teacher and nursing staff, peers, daily life, and taking care of patients. Moreover, a study in the Arab American University yielded the same results that identify teachers and nursing staff as the main stressors of nursing students in their first clinical training (Toqan et al, 2023). A phenomenological study among Malawian nursing students revealed that a lecturer who interacts in a "policing manner" induces more stress (Msiska et al, 2019).…”

“…Current studies that explore stressors among nursing students were of international origin which involve diverse social, cultural, and environmental factors (Aljohani et al, 2021;Alvarez et al, 2019;Cheng et al, 2023). Internationally, a lot of studies (Admi et al, 2018;Aedh et al, 2015;Alghamdi et al, 2019;Bam et al, 2014;Ching et al, 2020;Hirsch et al, 2018;Ismaile, 2017;Lavoie-Tremblay et al, 2022;Msiska et al, 2019;Shdaifat et al, 2018;Toqan et al, 2023) and systematic reviews (Chaabane et al, 2021;Labrague et al, 2017;McCarthy et al, 2018;Ribeiro et al, 2018) explore the various sources and levels of stress and coping mechanisms among nursing students in the many facets of their nursing education, especially in their academic and clinical trainings. Locally, only one study (Labrague et al, 2018) was found that explored stressors and coping strategies among 153 nursing students in the Northern Philippines but none in the Southern Philippines.…”

Psychological Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nursing Students: Palestinian Perspective

“…Numerous studies have revealed that the last year of university and the time preceding clinical practice make healthcare students more apprehensive ( Ahorsu et al, 2021 ; Pramukti et al, 2020 ; Toqan et al, 2023 ). Many students find that going to class at school helps them manage and maintain social connections.…”