Covid-19 Perception of Senior Nursing Students and their Behaviours Regarding Coping with Stress

Background: Nursing students are exposed to more stress

compared to the stress factors other students during the

life of university.In Turkey during the Covid-19 pandemic,

nursing students encountered a new reality of that includes

fear of infection, the challenges of distance education and

more. Therefore post-graduation plans of nursing students

may change and students may find themselves at higher

risk of infection.

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine Covid-19 perception

of senior nursing students and their behaviours regarding

coping with stress.

Material and Method: The population of this research

which is descriptive consists of final year students who

receive education in the department of nursing of two

state universities. The study was conducted with the entire

population. Data were collected using the Introductory

Information Form, Covid-19 Perception Form, and Stress

Coping Behaviour Scale for Nursing Students.

Results: It has been found that approximately half of the

students thought that the Covid-19 virus was a biological

weapon, and the majority of them thought that Covid-19

would cause economic crises; however, Covid-19 developed

a culture of hygiene and cleaning in the society. It has been

also determined that the stress coping behaviours of the

students were moderate during Covid-19 pandemic; being

optimistic, transference and problem solving levels were

moderate while the avoidance level was above the average.

Conclusion: Senior nursing students think that Covid-19

is positively affects the social hygiene culture. In addition,

the importance of personal measures in the protection

against Covid-19 and the possibility of implementing these

measures were determined in nursing students.