Nursing students' perceptions of the academic impact of various health issues

Nursing education is a challenging experience for many students, particularly those facing physical illness or emotional upset. Although we know that stress affects student learning, the impact of other health concerns is less well known. On the basis of their study, the authors discuss the most frequent and threatening health concerns reported by students, including sleep difficulties, interpersonal concerns (concerns about troubled friends or family members, and relationship difficulty), and mental health concerns (depression/anxiety/seasonal affective disorder and stress), and the implications for faculty and the provision of comprehensive student support services follows.