Sources of Stress in Nursing Students

Theoretical/Conceptual Framework 

The research article does not have a clearly defined theoretical and conceptual framework. The researcher has not explained the reason why the research has no conceptual or theoretical framework. Instead, the researcher only talks about the review of cross-sectional studies where students from a single academic course are compared to students from another academic course. The study also talks about the longitudinal studies where stress sources are compared for the same group across different academic courses ( Pulido‐Martos et al., 2012). To some extent, the absence of a conceptual framework somehow distracts the readers from the research's significance as they cannot tell what the researcher expects to find throughout the research. Due to the absence of a theoretical framework, it is unclear what the researcher will measure or statistically relate to the paper. 

Hypotheses/Research Questions 

The study does not have a clearly stated hypothesis. The hypothesis of a study makes the study's objective clearer by giving the study result based on some concrete and useful logic. Based on the personal analysis, the researcher has not clearly stated the hypothesis because this is qualitative research; therefore, the researcher cannot statistically test the narrative data emerging from the collected qualitative data. However, the researcher's literature review clarifies what hypothesis would be; the researcher talks of various stressors such as clinical stressors, academic stressors, and personal or stressors as potential nursing statements. In some cases, the researcher uses "questions" in qualitative to capture the hypothesis. The article's research question is, "what are the sources of stress among nursing students?' The research question is not clearly stated. 

Research Approach/Design 

The study uses data searcher and sources as the primary research approach. The MEDLINE and PsycInfo are the databases that were used for the search. The researcher describes MEDLINE as one of the complete bibliographic databases used in the research. The nursing journal is one specific MEDLINE database that was used in the research. According to the researcher, the PsycInfo database search was used to extract information from different disciplines, including nursing. The MEDLINE and PsycInfo were used to search terms for "nursing students" and "stress." Some of the stress-associated terms searched using the searcher include environmental stress, occupational stress, psychological stress, social stress, stress management, stress reaction, financial strain, physiological stress, anxiety, distress, chronic stress, burnout, stress, and work stress. Term search associated with "nursing student" includes nursery school, college students, educational programs, clinical practice, school nurses. The research method is not clearly stated; the researcher is only indicating the data sources and searchers used in the study but fails to explain how these data sources and searchers were used to measure stress among the nursing students. 

This research design's main strength is that it provides a little more detailed information regarding the data searchers and the specific information that the data searcher is looking for. Two data gathering methods can be used simultaneously. This research design's main weaknesses is that it is more difficult to analyze, and sometimes it fits various standard categories. 

The variables in the study have been clearly defined. Based on the study description, there are two main categories of variables: stress and nursing students. 

The internal validity of research is concerned with the consistency of the study design. On the other hand, the external validity of research is how the researcher has generalized the study findings to different measures and people used in the study. To counter the threat, both internal and external validity, the researcher included more instruments in collecting information about nursing students' stress factors. It provided information on the nursing students separately. Finally, research incorporated the studies that have stated the global stress measure. 

Sampling and Sample 

The study's number of subjects was determined based on the systemic review of the studies that Quantitatively analyze the stress sources among nursing students. The researcher was more specific in selecting the subjects; they were chosen based on the studies that assess stress-causing situations using standard instruments. Through a systematic review, a more significant number of studies were considered for this research. This researcher selected the sample based on the students' academic years and academic courses that the students are taking. A systematic sampling design was used in the study where the articles selected had to meet the criteria and objective of the study's systematic revision. The researchers used the nonprobability method of selection because they created the sample through a non-random process. Good sample size is about 10 percent of the entire population. The sample size was not appropriate because it was below the 10 percent mark. Given the sample size was not appropriate, it could not accurately and effectively represent the entire population. According to the researcher, the study sample was smaller than the anticipated number, implying that some subjects were lost during the study. The researcher lost the subjects because of the research design used; the loss significantly affected the study outcome because it limited the representation. The population can be generalized as much as the study findings can be generalized. 

Reference

Pulido‐Martos, M., Augusto‐Landa, J. M., & Lopez‐Zafra, E. (2012). Sources of stress in nursing students: a systematic review of quantitative studies.  International Nursing Review ,  59 (1), 15-25.