Evaluation of stress, bio-psycho-social response and coping strategies during the practical training in nursing students: a cross sectional study

The aim of the study was to identify stress level, bio-psycho-social response and coping behavior of nursing students during the practical training.

A cross-sectional study was carried out with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th-year nursing students (n = 1181) between September 2018-may 2019. Data was collected using by Socio-Demographic Questionnaire, The Student Nurse Stress Index, The Bio-Psycho-Social Response Scale and Coping Behavior Inventory.

The fourth-grade nursing students’ stress level was found to be statistically significantly higher than of other graders. Nursing students have shown emotional symptoms and social-behavioral symptoms the most. To cope with stress, nursing students used the strategies transference, staying optimistic, problem-solving and avoidance, respectively.

These findings highlight the need to routinely evaluate nursing students for stress, bio-psycho-social response, and coping strategies during practical training. Thus, counseling units can be constituted by the nursing schools, and nursing students who have higher stress levels and inadequate coping strategies benefit from these units.