Engagement and stress factors in nursing residents in Spain: a cross-sectional study

To describe stress factors and the level of commitment among residents of different nursing specialties.

A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 395 nursing residents in Spain. Data collection was conducted using a Google Forms questionnaire between December 2024 and February 2025. Two instruments were used: the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale for Students (UWES-S) to measure the level of commitment and the KEZKAK questionnaire to identify stressors. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Pontevedra-Vigo-Ourense (code: 2025/039).

High levels of stress were observed (M = 1,82/DE = 0,52), especially in women (women: M = 1,87/DE = 0,50; men: M = 1,53/DE = 0,60; p < 0.001), with overload, helplessness, and uncertainty being the main stressors. Commitment to learning was high, especially among Obstetrics-Gynecology residents (p = 0.006), first-year residents (p = 0.004), and residents with limited work experience (p = 0.016).

Despite high levels of stress, nursing residents maintained a medium-high professional commitment. These findings underscore the importance of implementing emotional support strategies and effective mentoring and programs, not only to protect residents' mental health but also to optimize their professional performance and ensure the quality of clinical care.