Individual stress and its relationship to termination of nurse training

During interviews with 23 learners (student and pupil nurses) who left training as a response to stress, the following points were explored; knowledge of nursing before commencing training; reasons for wanting to nurse; situations which produced stress; the way in which individual stress responses were expressed; and methods for coping with stress. Clinical experiences had produced the most distress, related predominantly to negative attitudes of other nurses. Behavioural and physiological signs of stress were observed as well as psychological reactions such as worry. People had few adaptive coping strategies and received little support in their time of need. The majority expressed a desire to try nursing again.