SITUATIONS THAT GENERATE STRESS IN NURSING STUDENTS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

Abstract

Objectives: To determine what situations the nursing students fnd most stressful during clinical practice, globally and per course, as well as the association of stressors, with certain sociodemographic and occupational variables. Method: Cross-sectional, descriptive, comparative and correlational study carried out at 215 nursing students who were registered during the 2009-2010 academic year at the University of Murcia, using as a measuring tool a modification of the questionnaire KEZKAK, which measures stress factors in nursing students during clinical practices. This questionnaire has a high level of validity and reliability and was adapted to the characteristics of the sample, prior a control group pretest. Data collected were statistically analyzed using SPSS 18.0, valuing associations with a significance level of p <0.05. Results: The students have high levels of stress during clinical practices; the most affected are the ones attending the second academic year. The stressors that affect them most are related to ignorance, helplessness and uncertainty about a clinical situation. It was also found that sociodemographic factors are associated with stress levels. Conclusions: Women report more stress than men, related to emotional situations. In men, stress is more associated with ignorance for uncontrolled clinical situations. Age, marital status, previous experience in health area and working and studying at the same time, influences the stress levels. To improve these stress levels among students, prevention programs development are recommended.