THE EXPERIENCE OF STRESS AMONG NURSING STUDENTS IN NURSING TRAINING COLLEGES IN TAMALE, GHANA

Abstract

The levels and sources of stress among diploma nursing students in the nursing training colleges have received little attention worldwide. The purpose of this study therefore was to examine the levels and sources of stress among diploma nursing students in two nursing training colleges in Tamale, Ghana. A total of 273 State Registered Nursing, Community Health Nursing, and Midwifery students who were selected using the stratified random sampling strategy were made to complete self administered questionnaires on stressors they encounter. Data was analysed using a One-Way ANOVA, One-Way repeated measures ANOVA and Independent sample t-test on SPSS version 17. Results indicated that students experience severe levels of stress. They also reported significantly higher Personal stressors, followed by Academic stressors and finally Social stressors. There was no significant difference in the levels of overall stress with regards to academic discipline (course type), gender and marital status. However, married students reported significantly higher academic stressors than those who were single and separated/divorced or widowed. Based on the findings, recommendations such as educating fresh students on adapting to college stressors, provision of counselling services in the colleges and focusing counselling on personal stressors as much as on academic related ones were made for stakeholders and future researchers. Implications of the findings include the fact that they can be useful in the management and counselling of nursing students on coping strategies