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Stressful episodes reported by first-year student nurses: a descriptive account
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|January 1, 1985
Summary
Student nurses face significant stress, particularly concerning patient death, conflicts, and skill insecurity. Improving support and communication can help alleviate nursing student stress.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Occupational Stress
- Qualitative Research
Background:
- Student nurses experience unique stressors during early clinical training.
- Understanding student perceptions of workplace demands is crucial for effective support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine stressful episodes reported by student nurses.
- To identify common themes and underlying factors contributing to nursing student stress.
- To explore potential interventions for stress alleviation.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving interviews with 150 student nurses.
- Analysis of reported stressful episodes during early hospital training.
- Classification of episodes into major content areas.
Main Results:
- Three key stress areas: care of dying patients, interpersonal conflicts, and skill insecurity, accounted for two-thirds of episodes.
- Inadequate support from senior staff and limited student experience were common underlying factors.
- Demanding ward environments exacerbated stress.
Conclusions:
- Student nurse stress is significantly influenced by patient care, interpersonal dynamics, and professional competence concerns.
- Enhanced support systems, improved communication, and stress management techniques are vital for mitigating adverse effects.
- Addressing these factors can improve the training experience and well-being of future nurses.