Evaluating Stress and Coping Strategies of Nursing Students Attending Arizona State University During COVID-19

The following study was designed to better understand the perceived stress levels and common coping strategies of nursing students attending Arizona State University during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) transactional theory of stress and coping suggests that stress is a product of the transaction between an individual and their complex environment. During the COVID-19 pandemic nursing students were forced to close and utilize online learning methods to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff. The current study identifies the perceived stress levels and common coping strategies of undergraduate nursing students at Arizona State University. A survey was sent to the identified population which asked participants to rate their stress level of attending nursing school during COVID-19 on a scale from one to ten. In addition, the Carver’s COPE inventory was utilized to determine common coping strategies among the nursing student population. The results of this study indicate that the closure of universities, and utilization of online learning methods increased stress levels of nursing students attending Arizona State University during COVID-19. In addition, nursing students most common coping strategies were identified as the use of planning, a problem-focused coping strategy, reinterpretation and growth, and active coping.