Pre-registration nursing students’ experiences of stress

Abstract

This research study aimed to explore stress among pre-registration nursing students in the United Kingdom. The specific objectives of the study were: To explore the experience of stress among pre-registration nursing students; to determine the type of stress and sources of stress in pre-registration nursing field; to investigate the perceptions of pre-registration nursing students on stress and anxiety in pre-registration nursing programme; and to identify suitable measures that can be implemented to help the pre-registration nursing students to cope with stress. Qualitative research method and phenomenological approach was used in this study and the data was collected with the help of face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The setting for the current study was a higher education institution (HEI) that delivers pre-registration nurse education in the UK. The study sample was six pre-registration nursing students from the East Midlands who were in the first, second, and in final year of the study program leading to BSc (Hons) Nursing with NMC Registration. A thematic analysis of the data was conducted which led to four emergent themes: Pre-registration nursing students’ experiences of stress; re-registration nursing students’ perceptions of stress and anxiety; sources of stress in the nursing field; and measures for coping with stress. The findings revealed that the pre-registration nursing students in this study perceived stress as a problem associated with human health that basically is caused by academic pressure presented by either theoretical assignments, projects, and examinations and placement demands such as while caring for patients. Moreover, stress among pre-registration nursing students was found to be a problem embedded in their lifestyle that impacts their wellbeing. Further findings showed that the study participants perceived that stress and anxiety are interrelated; anxiety takes place in response to stress resulting from academic and clinical placement pressure; and anxiety has a strong relationship with stress and is a contributor to depression too. The study participants also perceived that the major causes of stress include social distress, financial problems, academic pressure, demands of clinical placement, and family expectations. Academic pressure was found to be the most common cause of stress among the pre-registration nursing students in this study. Lastly, the findings revealed that the coping strategies that can help pre-registration nursing students to manage stress are adopting social support mechanisms, encouraging physical activities, and spiritual support.

Keywords: Pre-registration nursing students, Stress, Coping.

DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/85-14

Publication date: January 31^st 2021