Sense of Coherence, a Worthy Factor Toward Nursing Student and New Graduate Satisfaction With Nursing, Goal Setting Affinities, and Coping Tendencies

Abstract

Background: Nursing student readiness for practice is a relevant topic for educators aimed to ready students for a difficult practice environment, and healthcare employers challenged with the high attrition rates of new graduates. The literature suggests that stressors toward burnout may begin in the undergraduate setting with student nurses experiencing feelings of burnout being at significantly higher risk of leaving their position after only 10 to 15 months (Rudman & Gustavsson, 2012; Rudman, Gustavsson, & Hultell, 2014). Readiness for practice as a student informs how new graduate nurses will come into the practice environment. Their sense of coherence, ability to set and achieve goals, and coping skills are important factors toward surviving and thriving in their place of work. This study includes fourth-year nursing students on their final day of school, standing at the threshold of their nursing careers.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between sense of coherence scores of nursing students upon completion of their undergraduate program with their level of satisfaction in nursing as a career choice, coping skills, and goal setting tendencies.

Methods: The study uses a cross-sectional survey using quantitative and qualitative methods. Sense of coherence scores were obtained through the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (Antonovsky, 1987). In addition, data are gathered relating to age, coping habits, and goal setting tendencies. Open-ended questions are used to ascertain suggestions to enhance undergraduate curriculum efforts in the aforementioned topic areas. Data were obtained from 51 Western Canadian baccalaureate nursing students in their last day as an undergraduate.

Results: Quantitative results demonstrate a positive association between sense of coherence and satisfaction in nursing as a career choice; those with higher sense of coherence scores also demonstrating high levels of satisfaction with nursing. Those who regularly abuse substances to cope with stress were more likely to have lower sense of coherence scores. Additionally, those who were older were more likely to value formal goal setting. Qualitative data, elicited through open-ended questions within the questionnaire, suggested that students want more focused and student-centered curriculum on self-awareness, coping skill development, and goal ownership.

Conclusions: Sense of coherence is a significant factor for nursing students prior to practice entry. Specifically, it relates to their satisfaction with nursing as a career choice and their risks of engaging in substance abuse to cope with workplace stressors. In addition, age and goal-setting tendencies were also positively correlated. These findings are relevant to undergraduate student and educator practice readiness efforts and to new graduate nurse retention efforts.