Perceptions of Stress and Coping Strategies of Generation Z Nursing Students in the Clinical Setting
Abstract
The clinical learning environment is very stressful for student nurses, especially among undergraduate Generation Z nursing students. Faced with higher expectations, and perfectionism, Generation Z has been labeled the Anxious Generation. There are mounting concerns with nursing students’ ability to cope and handle stressful situations in the clinical setting. Stress negatively impacts student nurses in the clinical environment. Students often experience anxiety, fear, and an inability to effectively appraise and apply effective coping strategies. The inability to cope with stressors in the clinical setting may lead to inadequate problem-solving, resulting in poor student performance and possible harm to the patient.
The purpose of this presentation is to present the research findings associated with Generation Z nursing student’s (a) level of perceived stress, (b) types of perceived stress, (c) types of coping strategies used to manage different clinical stressors, (d) to determine if there was a relationship between perceived levels of stress and demographic factors and coping strategies. Utilizing the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Coping Behavior Inventory (CBI), this study determined that stress from assignments and workload were the most common stressors found in the clinical learning environment by Generation Z nursing students. While students experienced stress from assignments and workload, they practiced problem-solving coping strategies to manage clinical stressors. Additionally, this study’s results indicated that there was a negative significant correlation between Total PSS scores and Total CBI scores. Therefore, the results suggest that when the student’s stress increased, their coping strategies decrease. Lastly, the study results identified a statistically significant relationship between coping strategies avoidance and problem-solving as a predictor of perceived stress among Generation Z nursing students. The results indicated that the use of avoidance and problem-solving increased stress for the student.
Generation Z nursing students are the next generation of nurses. Understanding the relationship between the types of clinical stressors and coping strategies utilized by Generation Z nursing students will assist nurse educators in identifying and implement teaching strategies that equip students with effective methods to identify, manage, and cope with stress, which can be used later in their professional careers.
Notes
References:
D’emeh, W. M. & Yacoub, M.I. (2020). The visualization of stress in clinical training: A study of nursing students’ perceptions. Nursing Open, 8, https://doi:10.1002/nop2.629
Kaur, G., Chernomas, W. M., & Scanlan, J. M. (2020). Nursing students' perceptions of and experiences coping with stress in clinical practice. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 17(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijnes-2020-0005
Lazarus, R. & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer, New York.
Seemiller, C., & Grace, M. (2019). Generation Z: A century in the making. Routledge.
Schmitt, C. A., & Lancaster, R. J. (2019). Readiness to practice in Generation Z nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education, 58(10), 604-
606. doi:10.3928/01484834-2010923-09
Sheu, S. L., Lin, H. S., & Hwang, S. L. (2002). Perceived stress and physio-psycho-social status of nursing students during their initial period of clinical practice: The effect of coping behaviors. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 39, 165-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/S00207489(01)00016-5 17
Sigma Membership
Nu Eta
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Descriptive/Correlational
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Stress and Coping, Teaching and Learning Strategies, Transition to Practice or Onboarding, Nursing Students, Gen Z Nursing Students, Undergraduate Nursing Students
Recommended Citation
Hammond-Ritschard, Elizabeth, "Perceptions of Stress and Coping Strategies of Generation Z Nursing Students in the Clinical Setting" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 174.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/presentations_2025/174
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-12-04
Perceptions of Stress and Coping Strategies of Generation Z Nursing Students in the Clinical Setting
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
The clinical learning environment is very stressful for student nurses, especially among undergraduate Generation Z nursing students. Faced with higher expectations, and perfectionism, Generation Z has been labeled the Anxious Generation. There are mounting concerns with nursing students’ ability to cope and handle stressful situations in the clinical setting. Stress negatively impacts student nurses in the clinical environment. Students often experience anxiety, fear, and an inability to effectively appraise and apply effective coping strategies. The inability to cope with stressors in the clinical setting may lead to inadequate problem-solving, resulting in poor student performance and possible harm to the patient.
The purpose of this presentation is to present the research findings associated with Generation Z nursing student’s (a) level of perceived stress, (b) types of perceived stress, (c) types of coping strategies used to manage different clinical stressors, (d) to determine if there was a relationship between perceived levels of stress and demographic factors and coping strategies. Utilizing the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Coping Behavior Inventory (CBI), this study determined that stress from assignments and workload were the most common stressors found in the clinical learning environment by Generation Z nursing students. While students experienced stress from assignments and workload, they practiced problem-solving coping strategies to manage clinical stressors. Additionally, this study’s results indicated that there was a negative significant correlation between Total PSS scores and Total CBI scores. Therefore, the results suggest that when the student’s stress increased, their coping strategies decrease. Lastly, the study results identified a statistically significant relationship between coping strategies avoidance and problem-solving as a predictor of perceived stress among Generation Z nursing students. The results indicated that the use of avoidance and problem-solving increased stress for the student.
Generation Z nursing students are the next generation of nurses. Understanding the relationship between the types of clinical stressors and coping strategies utilized by Generation Z nursing students will assist nurse educators in identifying and implement teaching strategies that equip students with effective methods to identify, manage, and cope with stress, which can be used later in their professional careers.
Description
This presentation will describe perceived stressors faced by Generation Z nursing students in the clinical setting. Coping strategies Generation Z apply to overcome their stress will be identified. It is essential to maintain a balanced academic environment to improve learning outcomes and decrease stress for today’s Generation Z nursing students. Providing students with sound and robust preparation for their expectations of a clinical rotation might reduce anxiety and stress.