Perception of Learning Challenges and Coping Strategies in Clinical Area Among Nursing Students

Background Nursing students encounter academic and clinical challenges that can impact their health and academic performance. This study aimed to assess their perceptions of learning challenges the coping strategies they employ in clinical settings and the association between these factors and demographic variables.Methodology A quantitative descriptive survey design was employed involving a convenience sample of 205 B.Sc. Nursing students. For data collection a structured questionnaire was administered which included the Clinical Learning Environment Supervision CLES scale to assess perceptions of learning challenges and the Coping Behaviour Inventory CBI to evaluate coping strategies.Results The results indicated that majority of participants specifically 67.8 reported having a lsquovery goodrsquo perception of their learning challenges while 60.9 indicated that they employed coping strategies lsquosometimesrsquo. These findings suggest that while nursing students recognize the challenges they encounter in clinical environments their engagement with coping strategies varied. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant associations between studentsrsquo perceptions of learning challenges and various demographic factors including age year of study and the number of weeks of clinical exposure.Conclusion The study highlights the importance of acknowledging the unique challenges nursing students encounter in clinical settings and the necessity of developing effective coping mechanisms to enhance their educational experience. Addressing these issues is crucial for improving academic performance and preparing students for professional practice. Future research should aim to develop targeted interventions to support nursing students and strengthen nursing education outcomes.