A Descriptive Study to Assess the Level and Factors Contributing to Stress among the Nursing Students of Selected Educational Institute

Introduction Stress is a nonspecific response of the body to any kind of demand made up on it. In nursing, it is a situation that produces anxiety responses, mental distress thereby sleep disturbance. It can affect the whole lifecycle of a nursing student. Paulido-martos, Augusto-landa and Lopez-zafra in 2011 conducted a study to assess the main sources of stress among nursing students, identified academics as the first and clinical practice as the second source of stress among the undergraduate nursing students. Objectives The study objectives were to assess the level of stress and to determine the causative factors for stress among the nursing students of a selected nursing institute. Methods The research design selected for the study is a non experimental descriptive design. The study population consist of students undergoing basic BSc nursing course. Stratified sampling technique was used with a sample size of 60. From each strata of the specified population that is, first year, second year, third year, fourth year, 15 samples were randomly selected. The tool comprised of three sections- socio demographic data, rating scale to assess the levels of stress, a scale to rank the factors contributing to stress. Rating scale was prepared and grouped into 6 domains to assess the levels of stress. Ranking scale was prepared to assess the factors contributing to stress. Results Out of total study samples (n=60), 68.3 % were in the age group of above 20, 31.7 % were in the age group of below20, 20.5 % of the total samples were graduates where as 95 % have got 12th standard as their basic educational qualification.15 % of the sample belongs to joint families and 85 % are from nuclear families. Analysis shown that 68 % fell in moderate stress group, 27 % fell in mild stress group and 5 % fell in severe stress group. Among first year students, 35 % were under stress due to clinical assignments, in second year 42 % were under stress due to theoretical exams, in third year 53 % and 54 % of the fourth years were under stress due to academic assignments. Out of sample (n=60), 41 % of the sample are stressed due to academic assignments, 22 % are stressed due to clinical assignments, 18 % due to theoretical exam, 13 % are stressed due to practical exam, 3 % due to Co-Curricular activities and 3 % of the sample are stressed due to student nurses association portfolios. Conclusion The present study among the nursing students of a selected nursing institute helped to know the level of stress and factors contributing to stress.