Anxiety: Concept Analysis in Nursing

Anxiety is a common psychological phenomenon that has significant implications for patients, nurses and hospitalization outcome around clinical settings. Rapid social change, technological advancement, economic pressures, and the faster pace of modern life have led to an observed rise in the amount of people who suffer from anxiety throughout the world, and has resulted in anxiety becoming a major public health concern, as well as a key concept in nursing practice. Despite its common use in nursing literatures, anxiety is still a complex and multidimensional concept with different definitions in different disciplines, which caused ambiguity in assessing and intervening. This study is a concept analysis of nursing profession anxiety using Walker and Avant framework to clarify the meaning and application. The attributes, antecedents, and consequences of anxiety are examined systematically, as well as its utilization in nursing literature. Cognitive, physiological, behavioral, and emotional manifestations are identified as core attributes of anxiety and suggest it as a multidimensional phenomenon. Biological, Psychological and Situational Factors are discussed in relation to antecedents and Adaptive and Maladaptive Outcomes for patient and nurses are discussed in relation to consequences. Model cases, borderline and contrary cases are built to further clarify the concept and empirical referents such as the psychological scales, physiological indicators, behavioural observations are identified to support measurements in practice. The findings highlight the need for a clear conceptual understanding of anxiety to improve assessment, effective intervention and nursing education and research. Clarification of the concept of anxiety has led to the enhancement of patient-centered care, better clinical decision-making, and promotion of psychological well-being for nurses and patients alike. Keywords: Anxiety, Concept, Analysis, Attributes, Antecedents, Consequences,