Stress of Nursing Students During Clinical Exposure, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Clinical clerkship is the most important part of nursing education. Clinical setting is stressful that may create tension to students. Exposure to high stress may have negative impacts on clinical learning experiences, success and mental health of them. The purpose of this study was to determine clinical stress of nursing students of Tabriz Nursing Faculty (2010). This is descriptive study. All of the181 clinical clerkship students of the school participated in this study. After determining validity and reliability of the tool a questionnaire consisted of some social-demographic characteristics and standard scale of stress (Cohen) administered to the samples. Data analysis was performed using SPSS/Ver15. Students’ stress had a mean of M=57/09±16/97, the stress level was moderate. Results showed that students perceived a moderate level of stress in clinical settings and instructors should focus on reducing the stress level of the students. To identify clinical education problems and pitfalls in nursing, especially stress factors of clinical clerkship and to find effective ways to cope with it, it is recommended that nursing-school officials should develop proper training and strategies providing for instructors and students.