Katelynn Cabrera

16th Annual Teaching & Learning Conference , Salisbury University

As educators, we continue to observe the growing pressures our undergraduate students face as they transition into complex clinical environments. This presentation synthesizes current literature on stress, anxiety, and self-care among nursing students and highlights implications for teaching and learning within today’s academic and clinical contexts. Drawing on a comprehensive review of existing research, Dr. Cabrera outlines the scholarly foundations that explore student experiences and how they navigate challenges during clinical training. Additionally, the impact on learning and implications of practice is discussed.Stress and anxiety emerge as persistent barriers to student success (Visier-Alfonso, 2024). Clinical rotations, in particular, are identified as significant contributors to emotional strain, stemming from unfamiliar client encounters, fear of errors, high levels of responsibility, variable preceptor support, and interpersonal dynamics with staff and peers (Yildirim et al., 2017; Visier-Alfonso et al., 2024). These factors can hinder students’ confidence, impair clinical judgment, and ultimately affect academic progression and program retention (Reeve et al., 2013; Juan et al., 2023).

SU Teaching & Learning Conference,

Promoting self-care within nursing education programs is essential for nurturing personal well-being and resilience among nursing students. Traditional nursing education often emphasizes the importance of caring for others while inadvertently neglecting the development of effective self-care strategies. The rigors of nursing education can significantly affect students academically and emotionally, subjecting them to elevated levels of stress, anxiety, and burnout, particularly during demanding clinical placements and intensive coursework. Addressing the well-being and resilience of nursing students is a pressing concern for higher education providers, especially given the high prevalence of stress and attrition rates among this population.
Nurse educators play a vital role in promoting a holistic understanding of health by integrating evidence-informed self-care practices into the curriculum. This requires transformative and experiential teaching methods that enable meaningful student engagement with their self-care journey. Beyond personal well-being, the cultivation of self-care skills is vital for professional development; nurses who actively prioritize self-care are better prepared to deliver high-quality care to their patients. Developing skills in stress management and resilience is paramount for success in the nursing profession, where the demands can be exceptionally high.
By prioritizing and actively promoting self-care strategies within nursing education programs, educators convey a powerful message about its significance in nursing practice. This emphasis not only enhances the personal health of nursing students but also equips them with the tools necessary to foster a compassionate and effective care environment for their future clients.

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