Work-related stress and coping strategies among nursing students in Northern Ghana

The study investigated the levels of stress and coping strategies among nursing students in
Nalerigu College of Nursing and Midwifery in the North East Region. The objectives of the study
were to identify the stress level of nursing students of Nalerigu College of Nursing and Midwifery
and the coping strategies of nursing students. Descriptive survey design was employed. Perceived
Stress Scale and Afrocultural Coping Inventory were adapted and used to assess stress and coping.
Their reliability coefficients were 0.78 and 0.80 respectively. A sample size of 113 was selected
from second year students using simple random sampling. Data was analysed using Chi-Square
Test and Multivariate Test (MANOVA). Findings indicated that second year nursing students
experienced high levels of stress which was statistically significant. It also emerged from the
findings that the students’ stress levels did not differ in terms of the coping strategies they adopted.
It was recommended that college authorities as part of the orientation of new students, should
emphasise on the stressors of college life and the need to employ pragmatic coping strategies. It
was further recommended that management should provide opportunities for peer counselling,
student support groups, and adequate faculty advising to enhance active coping among nursing
students. Implications of the study have been discussed, conclusions have been drawn and
suggestions made.

Keywords: Work-related stress, coping strategies, nursing students, midwifery