Examining stress and coping: Program improvements of pre-licensure nursing students

Abstract

In a pre-licensure program, an unexpected number of episodes of student distress occurred during clinical training (resulting in emergency department visits and health-related absenteeism) in the first semester. To understand the underlying reasons for these episodes, investigators retrospectively explored how these students perceived and approached the stresses associated prior to and after their first semester work (as a part of program to improve performance and student well-being). Program innovations were employed, and student distress has dramatically decreased.