A cross-sectional study of clinical training stress, coping mechanisms, and social support among nursing students in Vietnam

Abstract

Clinical training is essential to nursing education but induces high stress levels, which can compromise a student's academic performance and well-being. To date, research regarding clinical stress and coping strategies among nursing students in Vietnam remains limited. To address this gap, the present study evaluated the levels of perceived stress, coping mechanisms, and social support in this population, investigating how these factors relate to one another during clinical placement. A descriptive, cross-sectional correlational study was conducted among 412 undergraduate nursing students at a private university in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Data were collected between March and June 2024. Eligible participants included full-time Bachelor of Nursing students of both genders who had completed at least one clinical placement. Students currently on a leave of absence or those with a diagnosed severe mental illness were excluded from the study. The study utilized stratified random sampling based on year level. Participants completed a survey packet including a socio-demographic form and validated scales for perceived stress, coping behaviors, and social support. Methodological integrity was ensured through pre-study reliability testing of all tools. To protect participant anonymity and prevent coercion, questionnaires were administered by research assistants in the absence of teaching faculty. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression. Ethical clearance was granted by the University Research Ethics Committee, with written informed consent obtained from all participants prior to data collection. Results indicate that Vietnamese nursing students experience moderate levels of stress during clinical training, primarily driven by academic pressures and patient-care demands. While adaptive coping strategies and robust social support systems serve as essential buffers against stress, maladaptive coping tends to exacerbate it. Thus, interventional studies to promote positive coping and enhance support from family, peers, and faculty—particularly for female and senior-year students—are strongly warranted.

Keywords: Adaptive coping, clinical training, nursing student, psychological stress, social support