Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how new graduate nurses describe their experiences of coping with stress in the clinical setting. The theoretical foundation for this study was the Lazarus and Folkman stress, appraisal, and coping theory. The main research question for this study was: How do new graduate nurses describe their experiences of coping with stress in the clinical setting based on the Lazarus and Folkman stress, appraisal, and coping theory? Four underlying research questions were drawn from the theoretical foundation to address how the new graduate nurses cope with stress based on the concepts associated with the selected theory. The sample was selected from a group of new graduate nurses from a single hospital in the Northeastern area in the state of New York. This study used a qualitative descriptive approach. Data collection comprised of individual and focus group interviews via Zoom video conference and memos. Interviews took place using a semi-structured approach, recorded and later transcribed. Data were analyzed using a thematic approach with an inductive approach and following an affective coding method. Important findings of this study suggest that the new graduate nurses are coping well considering the stressful environment in which they work, the behaviors, attitudes towards the environment, and their willingness to remain in the environment were evident. This study recommends ongoing studies that focus on the needs of new graduate nurses coping with stress as they enter the clinical setting.

Description

This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 28775116; ProQuest document ID: 2599174906. The author still retains copyright.

Author Details

Leticia D. Acevedo, EdD, MSN, RN, CCRN

Sigma Membership

Theta Tau

Type

Dissertation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Descriptive/Correlational

Research Approach

Qualitative Research

Keywords:

Adapting in Nursing, Clinical Settings, Stress, New Nurses

Advisor

Meghen Sanders

Second Advisor

Teresa Wenner

Third Advisor

Richard Hale

Degree

Doctoral-Other

Degree Grantor

Grand Canyon University

Degree Year

2021

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2024-03-04

Full Text of Presentation

wf_yes

Share

COinS