Perceived impact of academic stress on academic performance among undergraduate nursing students of university of Jos

Abstract

Introduction: This research study was carried out to assess the perceived impact of stress on academic performance among undergraduate nursing students of the University of Jos. Research Design: The research design was a correlational descriptive study. Sampling was not needed since the entire population of 208 were used as participants for the study. An instrument for data collection was structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, i.e., frequency, mean and percentage, and data presented in tables. Results: Results revealed that the common stressors found among undergraduate students and their (stressors') degree of influence on academic performance are finance; M = 3.5, exam; M = 3.5 among others had a strong influence, course load; M = 2.7 continuous assessment; 2.8 mean among others had a mild influence while overcrowded classroom and others fairly influence nursing students academic performance. The academic performance of undergraduate nursing students was satisfactory with 189 (81.7%) of the students having a cumulative grade point average between second class upper and second class lower. Nursing students perceived stress to have a negative impact on their academic performance. Being optimistic, having a relaxed state of mind were among other methods used by nursing students to cope with stress. Conclusion and Recommendation: The researcher concluded that stress is perceived by undergraduate nursing students of the University of Jos, to have a negative impact on their academic performance and recommended that the university/department introduce stress coping skills in the planning of undergraduate curriculum among others. Nursing students recommended that lecturers should be more friendly; financial burden be reduced on students, among others, as ways to help them cope with stress.