Stress among student nurses at a university in the Western Cape, South Africa
Abstract
Nursing education and training places significant demands on commitment,
dedication, and perseverance by nursing students. They experience increased levels of stress
which negatively affect their learning abilities and thinking. Given the nature of the work
nurses do, it is important to understand nursing students’ levels of stress, sources of stress
and stress management strategies in dealing with the harmful effects of stress.This study aimed to investigate stress in student nurses at a university in
the Western Cape by determining their perceived stress; describing their sources of stress
and identifying the stress management activities used to manage stress.