Academic Stress in Undergraduate Nursing Students in Montería, Colombia (2019)

Abstract

Introduction: Students in health sciences degrees such as nursing may experience psychological, social, physical and emotional changes, among others, due to the high burden generated by academic tasks and even more so when they are combined with nursing practicum. These changes may generate stress affecting the normal fulfillment of the professionals-in-training role. Objective: To determine academic stress in undergraduate nursing students during their nursing practicum in Montería, Colombia. Materials and Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 245 students calculated through purposive sampling. SISCO SV-21 inventory and a socio-demographic survey were applied. Results: The sample was mostly composed of women at an average age of 21 years old from urban areas classified as socioeconomic stratum 2. 96.32% of participants experienced stress, classifying it as moderate stress (66.94%) and average intensity level (47.04%). The most frequent stress agent was the method of evaluation used by teachers, which generated feelings of depression and sadness. The most common strategy used was control over emotions. Discussion: A high percentage of students reported feeling stressed during their nursing practicum, which is in line with the findings available in the literature. Conclusions: It is necessary to establish intervention programs at universities focused on stress prevention and management.