The Relationship between Nursing Students' Fear of COVID-19 and General Self-Efficacy and Clinical Stress Levels

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 and self-efficacy of nursing students and their clinical stress levels. Material and Methods: The study was conducted in a descriptive and cross-sectional type between July and August 2021 in first-year nursing students of a health sciences faculty of a university. The study was completed with 89 nursing students who agreed to participate without sample selection (91% of the population was reached). The research data was collected using the Student Introductory Information Form, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Clinical Stress Questionnaire. Results: It was determined that the mean age of the students was 20.24±1.15 years, 59.6% were women, 43.8% had COVID-19, 60.7% had families with COVID-19, and 14.6% had lost due to COVID-19. The mean score of the students on the Fear of COVID-19 Scale was 24.83±5.87, and the total score of the General Self-Efficacy Scale was 63.91±11.18. The Clinical Stress Questionnaire total score was 31.19±7.8. While there was a positive and significant relationship between the total score of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale and the total score of the General Self-Efficacy Scale (p<0.05), no significant. Conclusion: In this study, it was determined that first-year nursing students experienced high levels of fear of COVID-19, had high levels of general self-efficacy, and experienced low levels of stress in their first clinical practice experience.