NURSING STRESSORS, PROFESSIONAL QUALITY OF LIFE AND MEANING: CORRELATES AND QUALITATIVE REFLECTIONS

Nursing is a particularly stressful career. Most of the research on stressors experienced in nursing has focused on stress levels among registered nurses, with scant attention being given to nursing students, who are also exposed to substantial stressors. This study investigated stressors, professional quality of life (compassion fatigue, burnout and compassion satisfaction) and meaning among nursing students. One hundred and forty four participants (Mage = 21.59, SD = 3.76, female = 86.81%) completed surveys on professional quality of life and meaning. A subgroup of 16 participants (Mage = 20.31, SD = 1.49, female = 80%) provided qualitative data (nominal group technique, a group interview and narrative sketches). Quantitative data indicated that participants were at high risk for the development of compassion fatigue and burnout. The qualitative findings highlighted sources of stressors that were not identified by means of the quantitative instruments, for example academic workload and financial challenges. The value of reflective approaches to research with nursing students is highlighted.