ASSESSMENT OF STRESS COPING STRATEGIES AMONG NURSING STUDENTS IN MADONNA UNIVERSITY ELELE, RIVERS STATE

Students are subjected to different kinds of stressors, such as the pressure of academics with an obligation to succeed, an uncertain future and difficulties of integrating into the system stress may result from being separated from home for the first time, the transition to personal academics and the vary structure of academic experience at the college level. Stress can have a significant effect on adolescent's long term physical and mental well-being. The adolescents may become irritable, show lack of concentration, decreased academic performance, poor interpersonal relations, insomnia and absenteeism. This project aims to assess stress coping strategies among nursing students in Madonna University Elele, Rivers State. Data collected was a validated questionnaire. The study used descriptive cross sectional research design. It showed perceived level of stress, Feeling nervous and "stressed" and “Feeling unable to cope with all things that should be done” was the most perceived level of stress (65%) and “Able to control and manage my time” was the least perceived level of stress (40%). It showed the causes of stress among respondents, “examination” was seen as the most cause of stress (29.2%) and “Client attitude towards me” was the least (1.4%), and it showed stress coping strategies used by respondents. Seeking diversion like games, movies or music was the most frequently used method (23.51%) while solving family problems was the least used method (1.75%). This study concludes that stress is prevalent among Nursing student with some using bad coping mechanism and highlights the need for focused intervention in curbing the menace of poor stress coping mechanism.