Coping and Pre-Licensure Registered Nursing Students: An Integrative Literature Review.

Despite a wealth of information and growing diversity among nursing students, little is known about coping behaviors employed by these students or students educated in diverse environments. The aim of this integrative literature review was to examine what is known about stress, coping, measures of coping, and interventions to enhance coping, and in pre-licensure nursing students. Twenty-six peer-reviewed research articles were included. Stress, coping styles and behaviors, support, interventions, and instruments to measure coping were identified as key themes. Variations in coping were noted by gender, age, length of time in the program, and culture. Analysis of the literature illuminated the importance of support for students, and strong indications suggested educators play a pivotal role in helping students develop adaptive coping strategies. Nursing programs should consider incorporating coping instruction into the curricula.