The perceived levels of stress and anxiety in student nurse anesthetists during a pandemic: A descriptive cross-sectional study

Abstract

<p><strong>Background and Significance:</strong> Limited research exists regarding Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists' (SRNAs&rsquo;) perceptions of stress and anxiety during a pandemic such as the COVID-19 outbreak. Clinical effects of stress and anxiety have been shown to be detrimental to the active learning process in students.</p> <p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To explore the differences in stress and anxiety among three different cohorts of SRNAs in a nurse anesthesia program during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> Purposive sampling was utilized to select SRNAs who were full-time second or third-year nurse anesthesia students from a Midwestern nurse anesthesia program actively enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveys were sent to participants containing questions related to screening tools for stress and anxiety.</p> <p><strong>Results: </strong>Senior students graduating in 2020 were more likely to experience stress and anxiety, followed by freshmen then junior students, respectively. Female cohorts were also more likely to experience stress and anxiety compared to male cohorts.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> A variety of factors have been suggested to affect the levels of stress and anxiety in graduate SRNAs during a global pandemic. Future research should focus on pandemic-specific causative agents of stress and anxiety in SRNAs nationwide.</p>