8207850 Workplace stress in nursing students: implications for well-being and patient safety

<h3>Objective</h3> The demanding nature of healthcare work exposes students to high levels of stress, which can affect their psychosocial well-being and professional performance. This pilot study aims to investigate the impact of workplace stress and psychosocial factors on nursing students’ mental health and their readiness for professional practice after completing their nursing programme. <h3>Material and Methods</h3> A total of 124 nursing students (out of 148 invited), who had successfully completed their nursing programme and defended their theses, participated in the study. The Work-Related Quality of Life (WRQoL) Scale, a 23-item psychometric tool, was used to assess students’ perceptions of their future work environment. The survey measured six key psychosocial sub-factors: general well-being (GWB), home-work interface (HWI), job and career satisfaction (JCS), control at work (CAL), working conditions (WCS), and stress at work (SAW). <h3>Results</h3> The results indicated that 75% of students felt confident in their future roles, yet 35% reported experiencing work-related stress. Additionally, 9% of students acknowledged feelings of unhappiness or depression. Regarding patient safety, 63.7% agreed that even experienced professionals make mistakes, while 56.5% and 51.6% respectively believed that long working hours and the lack of regular breaks increase the likelihood of errors. 90% of students felt their education had prepared them to understand the causes of harm and to prevent mistakes, and 81% confirmed they had the knowledge to report errors and take appropriate actions following them. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The study highlights the positive influence of academic training on students’ confidence and preparedness for professional roles. However, it also emphasizes the need to address workplace stress and error management in nursing education. Targeted interventions, including stress management strategies and mental health support, should be incorporated into nursing curricula to better prepare students for the emotional and professional challenges they will face in clinical practice.