Stress and coping: junior baccalaureate nursing students in clinical settings

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify junior baccalaureate nursing students' perceived stressors and ways of coping during the clinical component of nursing education and the use of coping strategies by students with different ethnic backgrounds. Data were collected from 107 junior nursing students enrolled in the first clinical course. Results revealed students frequently perceived stressors in the clinical setting. The findings also revealed that students utilized two problem-focused coping strategies--problem solving and seeking social support coping strategies--more frequently than two emotion-focused coping strategies--tension reduction and avoidance coping. Additional findings revealed that both Caucasian and African-American students used more problem-focused than emotion-focused coping strategies.