Dealing with stress during your final year

The stressful reality of graduation

As your university studies draw to a close, your focus likely shifts to starting your nursing career. Final-year nursing combines theoretical and clinical components, taught concurrently to help you consolidate what you’ve learned.

While this integration is essential for professional growth, it can also be a significant source of stress.

You’re not alone in feeling the pressure of graduate year applications, upcoming careers, maintaining a good GPA, and preparing for final exams.

These academic demands are compounded by financial and social pressures, especially during unpaid clinical placements, which can take a toll on your emotional and physical health.

All these factors can impact your satisfaction with your education, academic performance, and even your ability to complete your course.

So, how can you effectively manage all this stress?

What is the relationship of stress in this situation?

Final year is designed to build your professional standing, communication skills, autonomy, competence, and confidence. While exciting, this transition can also bring feelings of under-preparedness and uncertainty.

In small doses, stress can motivate you and encourage thoughtful decision-making.

But when left unmanaged, stress can disrupt problem-solving, decision-making, and learning.

Impending transition-to-practice – navigating a new career

As you finish your final year, it’s natural to feel a mix of excitement and anxiety. Here are some key challenges and ways to approach them:

• Fine-tuning clinical skills: The shift from theory to practice can be challenging. Close observation and performance assessments from educators can feel daunting, but they’re meant to support your growth.
• Integrating theoretical knowledge: Bridging gaps between what you’ve learned and what you practice in clinical settings takes time and perseverance.
• Facing multifactorial challenges: Balancing coursework, clinical placements, and preparing for a new role requires organisation and resilience.

It’s a bumpy road, but with the right support and strategies, you can overcome these obstacles and achieve your goals.

Stress management and building resilience

Your final year is full of targets, from excelling academically to transitioning into practice. Managing stress effectively is key to building resilience—a trait that will support you throughout your career.

Resilience helps you:

• Tackle challenges without being overwhelmed.
• Maintain your mental health amidst stress, conflict, or adversity.
• Develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills for unpredictable situations.

Nursing can be demanding, with moments of anxiety and professional burnout. But by prioritising your mental health and building resilience, you’ll be better equipped to deliver quality patient care and enjoy a fulfilling career.

Coping mechanisms to achieve balance

Balancing academic, clinical, and personal responsibilities is essential for managing stress. Here are some strategies to help you cope:

• Adopt self-care practices: Incorporate relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness into your routine.
• Prioritise physical health: Maintain a healthy diet, stick to good sleep routines, and know when to take breaks.
• Use coping mechanisms: Choose emotion-based strategies like reflection and relaxation, or problem-based approaches like planning and organisation.
• Seek support: Leverage the supportive interventions within your curriculum and reach out to peers, mentors, or counsellors when needed.

Learning to cope with stress isn’t just about surviving your final year—it’s also preparing you to manage the pressures of your new nursing career. By building resilience and adopting effective stress-management techniques, you’re setting yourself up for long-term success.

References

Cleary, M., Visentin, D., West, S., Lopez, V., & Kornhaber, R. (2018). Promoting emotional intelligence and resilience in undergraduate nursing students: An integrative review. Nurse education today, 68, 112-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2018.05.018

Bhurtun, H. D., Azimirad, M., Saaranen, T., & Turunen, H. (2019). Stress and coping among nursing students during clinical training: An integrative review. Journal of Nursing Education, 58(5), 266-272. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20190422-04

Labrague, L. J., McEnroe-Petitte, D. M., Gloe, D., Thomas, L., Papathanasiou, I. V., & Tsaras, K. (2017). A literature review on stress and coping strategies in nursing students. Journal of mental health, 26(5), 471-480. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2016.1244721

Labrague, L. J., & McEnroe‐Petitte, D. (2018). Job stress in new nurses during the transition period: an integrative review. International nursing review, 65(4), 491-504. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12425

Ngozika Ugwu, S., Ogbonnaya, N. P., Chijioke, V. C., & Esievo, J. N. (2023). Causes and effects of theory-practice gap during clinical practice: the lived experiences of baccalaureate nursing students. International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being, 18(1), 2164949. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2164949

Rafati, F., Nouhi, E., Sabzevari, S., & Dehghan-Nayeri, N. (2017). Coping strategies of nursing students for dealing with stress in clinical setting: A qualitative study. Electronic physician, 9(12), 6120–6128. https://doi.org/10.19082/6120

Turner, K., & McCarthy, V. L. (2017). Stress and anxiety among nursing students: A review of intervention strategies in literature between 2009 and 2015. Nurse Education in Practice, 22, 21-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2016.11.002