Relationships between Nursing Practice Stress and Stress Coping of Nursing Students in Korea

This study was done to identify the relationships between nursing practice stress and stress coping for the nursing students in Korea. Data were collected at 2 universities located in C city in Korea. Participants were 160 nursing students. Data were analyzed by SPSS 18.0 using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Nursing practice stress was 2.72 ±6.2. Stress coping was 2.60±0.37. Stress was correlated with wishful thinking coping strategy when doing orientation (r=0.32, p<0.01), conference(r=0.52, p<0.01), homework(r=0.29, p<0.01). Stress for practice exam was correlated with problem focused coping strategy(r=0.31, p<0.05). Stress was correlated with positive view coping strategy when face nurse(r=0.31, p<0.01) or interpersonal relations(r=0.35, p<0.01). Stress related to practice environment and class was correlated with indifference (r=0.26, p<0.01) and tension relieve strategy (r=0.28, p<0.01). There’s no stress when they meet or serve direct care to patients. Students managed the stress by showing active coping pattern. It is considered that the experience gave students an excellent capacity to cope with stress. Since the degree of stress and coping pattern can differ from adaptability of situation, a research of change in clinical training stress by seasonal clinical training and coping patter is proposed.