Learning Objective #1: Identify common life-event stressors among students entering into the first nursing course

Learning Objective #2: Assist beginning nursing students dealing with the life-event stressors through the learning process

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Self-reported life stressors among students in their first nursing course. Abstract Introduction: Stress among nursing students is a paramount concern of nursing educators because high stress levels often lead to decreased learning and higher drop-out rates. Moderate to high levels of stress have been found to have a negative effect on learning and impaired judgment. The purpose of this exploratory study was to determine the level of stress experienced by nursing students enrolled in their first nursing course.

Design: A quantitative survey design using a self reporting questionnaire was selected.

Sample: The population was nursing students enrolled in their first baccalaureate nursing course. A convenience sample of 109 freshmen students chose to participate.

Method: A questionnaire, How Much Stress Have You Had Lately?, (Marx, Garrity, & Bowers in Alters & Schiff workbook, 2003) was used for data collection after IRB approval. The instrument measures major life events occurring in the past year

Findings: Data is currently being analyzed. Preliminary data analysis suggests that large numbers of freshmen students are under very high levels of stress. The Questionnaire indicates that a score of 347 or below is a low stress level and a score over 1435 is a high degree of stress. Nearly 50% experience stress mid point on the scale. However, nearly one-fourth of the freshmen reported scores over 1435—some well over 2,000 indicating very high level of life stressors.

Conclusions and Implications: Freshmen nursing students entering the nursing curriculum report having experienced moderate to high levels of life event stressors. In order to retain these capable students, nursing faculties must develop programs to assist students to learn to cope with their stressors in a positive manner. It is vital that nursing faculties identify students at risk early in the nursing curriculum and guide the students to appropriate resources.