Running Head: The causes of stress and its effects among nursing students Page |1

The causes of stress and its effects among nursing students

Stress is a condition in which a person feels unpleasant, emotionally and physically. This can

occur due to perceived danger by the situation or threatening condition for the wellbeing of that

person (Bilali & Bilali, 2013). The word of stress is different for different people; for some

people it is a state of anger and anxiety whereas, some people state that stress causes fast heart

rate and physiological and emotional changes. Like other professionals, nursing students also

face this phenomenon during their study time. Stress is caused by uncertainty about the future,

work burden and unwillingness (financial and social Issues) towards the profession. However,

the effects which are seen by these causes are; the absenteeism, lack of interest in studies and

poor interpersonal relationships. Therefore, it can be said that the causes of the stress are

different among nursing students which are affecting them in a number of different ways.

Firstly, the cause of the stress is uncertain future among the nursing students. According

to Bilali and Bilal (2015), an uncertain future and difficulties in leading towards integration into

the system is the cause of stress among the nursing students (p.1409). Secondly, the workload

and over work is also a common cause among the nursing students. Nursing students have to

bear academic pressure as well clinical pressure. Sharma & Kaur, (2011) has elaborated that the

common factor that causes stress among the nursing students is academic factor. Students are

overloaded with work and are given such assignments which are not clear to them. Eventually

they are not satisfied with their performance (p.19). Finally the cause of the stress is

unwillingness towards nursing professions. The students come forcefully by the family and they

lack resources for further academic studies. There are number of social and cultural changes

which also act as an associated factor of stress. According to Sharma & Kaur, (2011), parental

expectations are the cause of stress among the nursing students. Furthermore, the financial
THE CAUSES OF STRESS AND ITS EFFECTS AMONG NURSING STUDENTS P a g e | 2

problems which are faced by the students are also leading towards stress (p.16). Hence, the

students don’t get enter to this profession by their own. They are forced, thus, they don’t have

interest in this profession and studies.

While talking about the effects which are being produced by these causes vary. Firstly,

the student’s regularity and punctuality is disturbed. They become absentee because of great

stress. Workload and pressure of studies make students to get rid by not attending the classes and

by absenteeism. Secondly, the stress affects the students by promoting lack of interest in studies.

Thus there physical and psychological well-being is impaired and disturbed. Nursing students are

being humiliated by others and even by the senior nurses; therefore, they lose their interests in

the studies. According to Abasimi, Atindanbila, Mahamah, & Gai (2015), on clinical practices

students have fear of making mistakes and they are being disgraced by the senior nurses and

medical students. Furthermore, the physicians and other senior people try to let them down

(p.91). Thus, the students feel less interested in the nursing profession and studies. The last one

that affects the nursing students is poor interpersonal relationships. Due to stress and

unwillingness towards this profession, they become isolated and don’t want to have relationships

with other students and fellows. According to Bilali and Bilali (2013), nursing schools are

stressful places for nursing students. They exert negative pressure and have negative effects in

response (p.1409).

Stress is most common thing that is being faced by the student nurses and schools

because they are not familiar with all these situations earlier to this.

Abasimi, Atindanbila, Mahamah, & Gai (2015) elucidated that a number of stressors are there

which affect the students in number of ways. The inability to involve n social activities,
THE CAUSES OF STRESS AND ITS EFFECTS AMONG NURSING STUDENTS P a g e | 3

workload negative and financial problems of nursing students are the main causes and thus the

ultimate effect is less work poor interpersonal relationship (p.92).

The recommendations for these causes and effects are including the following. The new

students should be educated prior to admission and their counseling should be done.

Abasimi, Atindanbila, Mahamah, & Gai (2015) stated that educating the new students in colleges

and schools of nursing helps them to manage their stress. Furthermore, counseling also helps

them to manage their stress and minimize their effects (p.98). Moreover, the students should be

allowed to work under supervision (less pressure) and in less humiliating environment to

maintain their interest in the studies. The students should be involved in the social events and

their interpersonal relationships should be evolved.

In nuts shall, it can be concluded that the causes and effects of stress among nursing students are

devastating towards their future. If they are not able to manage these stress and their related

factors they cannot grow and glow in professional (academic and clinical) studies. New

knowledge and advancement in the nursing profession needs attention towards these issues.

These issues should be resolved to enhance the level of education and professionalism.
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References

Abasimi, E., Atindanbila, S., Mahamah, M. M., & Gai, X. (2015). The Experience of Stress

among Nursing Students in Nursing Training Colleges in Tamale, Ghana. International

Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 5(2), 89-97.

doi:10.5923/j.ijpbs.20150502.06

Bilali, V., & Bilali, S. (2015). Students Stress in Nursing School. International Journal of

Science and Research (IJSR), 4(1), 1409-1411. Retrieved from

https://www.ijsr.net/archive/v4i1/SUB15544.pdf

Pulido-Martos, M., Augusto-Landa, J., & Lopez-Zafra, E. (2011). Sources of stress in nursing

students: a systematic review of quantitative studies. International Nursing

Review, 59(1), 15-25. doi:10.1111/j.1466-7657.2011.00939.x

Sharma, N., & Kaur, A. (2011). Factors associated with stress among nursing students. Nursing

and Midwifery Research Journal, 7(1), 12-21. Retrieved from

http://medind.nic.in/nad/t11/i1/nadt11i1p12.pdf