Nursing students’ experience of stress during their education: A study in the Central Region, Ghana

Abstract

Nursing students suffer high levels of stress during their education experiences. Nursing research supports the argument that practicum experience of course work yields more stress than class experience. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceived level of stress and sources of stress in undergraduate and diploma nursing students. In this study, a sample of 170 students, 104 undergraduate level 400 and 66 level 300 diploma nursing students completed a modified form of the Hassles Assessment Scale to evaluate the students’ sources of stress. Findings revealed that the diploma nursing students had higher stress levels but these stress levels were closer to the mean of the average stress levels of the undergraduate nursing students indicating both research groups experienced high level of stress. Another significant finding was that, females were found to feel more stress than males. The findings of high stress levels in both nursing groups supports the assumption that stress management needs to be addressed. Further examination of this topic could offer more information.