Prevalence and Associated Factors of Stress and Coping Strategies of Nursing Students During Clinical Practice in School of Nursing, Wachemo University, Ethiopia

Background: The current professional nursing education program adopts various great attention for clinical practice to supply nursing students. Objective: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of stress and coping strategies of nursing students during clinical practice in the school of nursing, Wachemo University, Ethiopia, 2024. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional design study was conducted between January 1 and 12/2024. The total number of students was 421. Data were collected using the validated tool and entered using Epi-data Version 3.1 and exported to SPSS Version 25 for analysis. Binary logistic regression was done, and variables with a p-value of <.05 were taken into the multivariable analysis. Statistically significant was declared at a p-value of <.05 with AOR and 95% CI. Result: The prevalence of stress and coping strategies was 58.4% with 95% CI [53.6-62.8] and 52.0% with 95% CI [47.3-56.5] respectively. Male gender, private regular, and instructor guide were significantly associated with stress. Age group 19-24 years, having low grades, living in a university dorm, clinical staff guiding, instructor guiding, and asking unclear issues were significantly associated with coping strategies. Conclusion: About six in ten nursing students have stress. Being male gender, being a private, living with families, and instructor guide are significantly associated with stress. Therefore, managing gender-related issues, attending regular programs, living in a university dorm, and guiding the students might reduce the burden of stress during clinical practice. About five in ten nursing students have good coping strategies. Being age group of lower years old, having low grades, living in a university dorm, clinical staff guiding, instructor guiding, and asking the instructor about unclear issues were significantly associated with coping strategies. Therefore, improving grades, living in a university dorm, clinical staff and instructor guidance, and asking about unclear issues might enhance coping strategies.