Estrés y ansiedad en estudiantes de enfermería durante la primera ola de la pandemia de COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To compare anxiety and acute stress levels among nursing students who joined the labour market during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic   and those who did not. METHODS: A cross-sectional, multicentre descriptive study across three Spanish public universities. A total of 216 nursing students participated in our study. Data collection was carried through an online questionnaire, that included variables on conditions for entering the labour market, the Zung Anxiety Self-Assessment Scale and the Stanford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses.  Results: Overall, 42.6% (n=92) of the students entered the labour market during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The global anxiety score was x?=36.31 (SD=5.71) and the stress score was x?=82.39 (SD=30.84). Lower anxiety levels were observed among those who joined the labour market (x?=35.67; SD=5.78) as compared to those who did not (x?=36.73; SD=5.67). Overall 92.4% of the students were acutely stressed. Acute stress was higher among those who did not work (x?=84.35; SD=32.38) and significantly in women.  Conclusions: Nursing students were able to cope with stress in situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. A healthy worker effect could not be ruled out. Stress and anxiety among nursing students should be considered by clinical practice preceptors and at the time students first enter the labour market.

OBJETIVO: Comparar los niveles de ansiedad y estrés agudo entre los/las estudiantes de enfermería que se incorporaron al trabajo durante la primera ola de la pandemia de COVID-19 y aquellos que no lo hicieron. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal multicéntrico realizado en tres universidades públicas españolas. Un total de 216 estudiantes de enfermería participaron en nuestro estudio. La recopilación de datos se realizó mediante un formulario en línea. Se recopilaron variables relacionadas con las condiciones para ingresar al mercado laboral y se incluyó la Escala de Autoevaluación de Ansiedad de Zung y el Cuestionario de Reacción Aguda al Estrés de Stanford. Se llevaron a cabo análisis univariados y multivariados. RESULTADOS: El 42,6% de los estudiantes ingresaron al mercado laboral. La puntuación global de ansiedad fue x?=36,31 (DE=5,71) y la puntuación de estrés fue x?=82,39 (DE=30,84). Los niveles más bajos de ansiedad se encontraron en aquellos que se incorporaron al mercado laboral (x?=35,67; DE=5,78), en comparación con aquellos que no lo hicieron (x?=36,73; DE=5,67). El 92,4% del total de alumnos presentaron estrés agudo. El estrés agudo fue mayor en aquellos que no trabajaron (x?=84,35; DE=32,38), y significativamente en mujeres.  Conclusiones: Los estudiantes de enfermería mostraron ser capaces de hacer frente al estrés en situaciones como la pandemia de COVID-19. No se puede descartar un efecto del trabajador sano. El estrés y ansiedad de los estudiantes de enfermería deben tenerse en cuenta por los tutores de prácticas clínicas y cuando se incorporan al mercado laboral por primera vez.

From students to nurses under pressure: Nursing students' entry into employment during the first COVID-19 wave.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: To describe the experiences of nursing students and their mental health as they entered employment during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (May-June 2020). BACKGROUND: As other healthcare professionals, nursing students who worked during the first COVID-19 wave suffered from dysfunctional mental health symptoms. DESIGN: Sequential, mixed-method, multicentre study. METHODS: The study population comprised 92 students in the third and fourth year of the Nursing degree at three Spanish universities, who entered employment during the pandemic. Data were collected between May and June 2020. In the quantitative phase, data were collected using an online questionnaire containing both validated anxiety and stress scales. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 participants. A descriptive analysis of the quantitative data and a reflexive thematic analysis of the qualitative data were carried out, and analyses were combined. COREQ checklist was used for reporting. RESULTS: The combined quantitative and qualitative results were organised into five thematic areas: (1) Interruption of clinical placements, (2) Entering employment on a healthcare assistant contract, (3) Preventing contagion, (4) Adapting to the situation and managing emotions, and (5) Lessons learned. CONCLUSION: The students had a positive overall experience of entering employment, as they were able to develop their nursing skills. However, they had an emotional impact in form of stress caused by excessive responsibility, academic uncertainty, lack of personal protective equipment and training in its use, and the possibility of spreading disease to their family members. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: In the current context, changes must be made in study programmes to instruct nursing students to be able to cope with extreme clinical situations, such as pandemics. The programmes should include a more extensive coverage of epidemics and pandemics and management of emotional aspects such as resilience.

Job expectations and intolerance to uncertainty of nursing students: Results from a multicentre, mixed-methods study in Spain.

AIM: To identify the job expectations and intolerance to uncertainty in final-year nursing students from three Spanish universities and evaluate the differences between them. DESIGN: Multicentre, mixed-methods study. METHODOLOGY: We included nursing students from three universities in Spain (Lleida, A Coruña and Murcia). Questionnaires were used to collect data on sociodemographic variables, job expectations and intolerance to uncertainty. In addition, in-depth personal interviews were conducted to complement quantitative data. Descriptive statistics were calculated and comparison tests (ANOVA, chi-square) were performed to analyse the differences between universities and a content analysis was carried out for qualitative data. RESULTS: The sample included 305 final-year nursing students enrolled in the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 courses, of which 21 participants were interviewed for the qualitative phase. Findings were reported based on four main themes: Expected employment conditions, perceptions of working conditions, job uncertainty and increased chances of getting a job by continuing education after finishing the nursing degree. Results showed that 92.13% of the students were concerned about their future employment. Analysis of the in-depth interviews highlighted the uncertainty of finding a job as a nurse and the anticipated precarious employment conditions (i.e. lack of stability stemming from daily or weekly temporary contracts) in case they managed to find work. Moreover, it was shown that these perceptions affect their health, leading to situations of anxiety, stress and negativity during their time as nursing students. Overall, 65.57% considered migrating outside their town/region to increase their job opportunities and 97.0% wanted to continue their education after finishing their degree, motivated by their vocation, professional aspirations and to increase their possibilities of finding work. CONCLUSION: Nursing students find themselves in a situation of great uncertainty before finishing their studies, anticipating a future with great stress and even frustration as a result of unemployment and job insecurity. They even consider the possibility of migrating when they finish their degree to increase their job opportunities. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the recruitment process of nurses in Spain through increased security and stability and thus contribute to reducing the stress and frustration of future nurses.

Burnout and job satisfaction among nurses in three Spanish regions.

AIMS: To determine the levels of job satisfaction and burnout syndrome and related factors among nurses in three Spanish regions. BACKGROUND: The nursing profession involves high work stress due to emotional involvement, workload and available resources. METHODS: Descriptive multicentric cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic and migration data were collected and participants completed the Job Satisfaction Questionnaire S20/23 and Maslach Burnout Inventory. The data were analysed using descriptive statistical methods using the program SPSS. RESULTS: The sample included 228 nurses (187 women and 41 men), with a mean age of 37.11 ± 10.87. Reported job satisfaction was medium to high. Overall, values were low in emotional fatigue and medium in depersonalization and personal fulfilment. In terms of migration, 21.59% of the participants had already moved to other Spanish regions or another country, while 18.58% had the intention of doing so. CONCLUSION: Nurses with a temporary contract showed a high burnout rate, and high levels of emotional fatigue, depersonalization and lack of personal fulfilment. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Strategies are needed to improve working and contractual conditions such as enhancing teamwork, management and leadership skills in nurses; achieving internal promotion; and having higher participation in decision-making and a better balance of power between health institution managers and health professionals.