PEER SUPPORT AFFECTS THE STRESS LEVEL OF NURSING STUDENTS IN CARRYING OUT CLINICAL PRACTICE

Background: Academic demands, nursing clinical practice competencies, and poor interaction with preceptors are at risk of causing stress in students. Peer support can increase enthusiasm and reduce stress levels. Objectives. The study aims to determine the relationship between peer support and the stress levels of students when carrying out nursing clinical practice. Methods This study is a quantitative, analytical descriptive design, cross-sectional approach. The population of all regular class nursing students in the fourth semester carrying out nursing clinical practice for the first time came from two nursing colleges totaling 130 respondents. The sample size obtained was 97 respondents. The sampling technique used probability sampling. The researcher developed the research instrument. The research instrument consisted of demographic data, peer support, and stress levels. The results of the validity and reliability tests obtained a Cronbach's alpha value ≥ 0.02. Bivariate analysis used the chi-square test. The results of the study concluded that there was a significant relationship between peer support variables and stress levels with a p-value of 0.001. There is a moderate and unidirectional considerable relationship between peer support variables and stress levels, namely the higher the peer support, the higher the student's stress level.