title: Undergraduate student nurses' lived experiences of anxiety during their first clinical practicum: A phenomenological study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Fundamental Nursing clinical practicum is an essential module for nursing students. Some feel stress or anxiety about attending this first placement; however, evidence demonstrates that it is rare to explore the feelings of anxiety felt by the nursing students concerning their first clinical practicum.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to explore student nurses' experiences of anxiety felt regarding their initial clinical practicum while studying for their University degree.
  
  
  METHODS
  A phenomenological approach was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university in Southern Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A purposive sampling of fifteen student nurses with anxiety reactions who had completed their first clinical practicum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected using a semi-structured guide and deep interview. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step phenomenological method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three themes surfaced in the findings. The first theme was anxiety around their first clinical practicum, which stirred up anxiety about: self-doubt, worry and fear; difficulty coping with the learning process; worry hampered establishing therapeutic relationships with patients; the progress of the patients' illness could not be predicted; and anxiety felt about lecturer-student interactions. The second theme was three phases of anxiety reactions, which included increasing anxiety before clinical practicum; exacerbated anxiety during clinical practicum, and relief of anxiety after clinical practicum. The third theme was coping behaviors. This comprised: self-reflection in preparation for clinical practicum; finding ways to release emotions; distractions from the anxiety; and, also facing their difficulties head-on.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings could help raise the awareness of lecturers and students by understanding student nurses' anxiety experiences and facilitating a healthy preparation for their initial clinical practicum, consequently proactively helping reduce potential anxiety experiences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, I-Shou University, No. 8, Yida Rd., Jiaosu Village, Yanchao District, Kaohsiung City 82445, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: sunfanko@isu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Fan-Ko
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Ulster University, 41. North Parade, Ormeau Road, Belfast BT 72GH, Northern Ireland, UK. Electronic address: drannlong1@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, I-Shou University, No. 8, Yida Rd., Jiaosu Village, Yanchao District, Kaohsiung City 82445, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: ytsen01@isu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Yun Shan
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Chang Jung Christian University, No. 1, Changda Rd., Gueiren District, Tainan City 71101, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: x2156@mail.cjcu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Hui-Man
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, E-Da Hospital, No. 61, Xintang Rd., Neipu Township, Pingtung County 912, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: sky19911024@hotmail.com.tw.
authors.forename: Jia-Hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, I-Shou University, No. 8, Yida Rd., Jiaosu Village, Yanchao District, Kaohsiung City 82445, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: chunying@isu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chun-Ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chiang
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anxiety; Clinical lecturers; Nursing clinical practicum; Nursing students