title: Relationship of anxiety level and recall of information to the interval between orientation and first patient care day.
abstract: Sophomore students' responses to two different intervals between orientation and first clinical day in medical/surgical nursing were examined. Variables studied were anxiety state and ability to recall information which had been presented. Prior to orientation all students were given the Spielberger STAI-S and STAI-T anxiety scales. At the beginning of the first laboratory session the students completed the STAI-S scale and a teacher-made quiz on information presented in orientation. Students in Group I (n = 51) had their first laboratory one week after orientation. Group II (n = 39) had their first laboratory the day following orientation. There was no significant difference between the two groups on cumulative grade point average, beginning STAI-T or STAI-S. Likewise, there was no significant difference between the scores made on the quiz. (The validity and reliability of the quiz were not determined.) There was a significant difference between the two groups on changes in state anxiety from orientation to the first laboratory. Group I (laboratory one week after orientation) was more anxious than Group II (laboratory one day after orientation) (p = 0.024). Both groups were significantly more anxious in the Spring than Fall quarter (p = 0.034). It was concluded that anxiety related to a new clinical experience might be lessened if the first clinical day closely followed orientation. It was also noted that students may be more anxious in the Spring than in the Fall of the year.
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety; D002140:California; D004507:Education, Nursing, Associate; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D012621:Seasons; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors