A journey mapping study of internship stress among undergraduate nursing interns

Aim To explore the dynamic process of stress experienced by undergraduate nursing interns during clinical internships and to construct a journey map of internship stress in order to identify stage-specific stressors, emotional experiences, and pain points. Methods Using purposive sampling, 19 undergraduate nursing interns were recruited from five tertiary hospitals in Sichuan Province between May 2025 and March 2026. Data were collected at different stages of the internship through semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was employed for coding, and journey mapping was applied to integrate and visually represent the trajectory of stress over time. Results Internship-related stress among undergraduate nursing interns evolved across four periods: Preparation Period; Shock Period; Adaptation Period; Differentiation Period. A total of 36 themes were identified across three overarching dimensions—tasks, emotional experiences, and pain points—systematically illustrating the trajectory of stress evolution. Conclusion Stress among undergraduate nursing interns demonstrates a stage-based and dynamic trajectory, with distinct pain points and corresponding support needs at each stage. These findings provide empirical evidence for nursing educators and clinical managers to develop stage-specific, targeted interventions and to optimize internship support systems.