STRESS LEVEL AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG UNDERGRADUATE NURSING STUDENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY AT PRIVATE NURSING COLLEGES OF KARACHI

Abstract

Undergraduate nursing students are individuals enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program who are trained to develop theoretical knowledge, clinical skills, and professional competencies required for safe and effective patient care¹^,². They undergo continuous academic learning along with clinical exposure in hospital settings, which requires strong critical thinking and time management skills³.Stress among undergraduate nursing students is a common psychological response that occurs due to academic workload, clinical responsibilities, examinations, and transition from classroom to hospital environment⁴^, ⁵. This stress can negatively impact learning ability, academic performance, and overall mental and physical health⁶.

To evaluate the level of stress and identify the coping strategies used by undergraduate nursing students in managing academic and clinical challenges. The results showed that students experience stress mainly due to worry about grades, heavy workload, and pressure from assignments. To manage stress, students commonly use coping strategies such as making plans to solve problems, staying positive, and using past experiences. The study concludes that undergraduate nursing students face significant academic-related stress, while they mainly use positive and problem-focused coping strategies to manage it.