The Impact of Problems in the Clinical Placement Environment on Anxiety among UNIMAS Nursing Students
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UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK
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Clinical placements were essential in nursing education, as they enable students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world healthcare settings. While these experiences were crucial for developing clinical competence, they were often accompanied by challenges that can adversely affect students' mental well-being. Issues such as inadequate supervision, fear of making mistakes, and communication difficulties can trigger high levels of anxiety. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of problems encountered by UNIMAS nursing students during clinical practice on their anxiety. A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed, and data were collected from 139 nursing students in Years 2 to 4 through a self-administered online questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic items, a checklist of 14 clinical placement problems, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, independent T-tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests. The most frequently reported problems were fear of harming patients (96.4%), lack of clinical experience (93.5%), and fear of self-injury (82.7%). Several problems, including lack of supervision, fear of negative feedback, and communication barriers, were significantly associated with higher state and trait anxiety scores (p < .05). However, some commonly reported issues, such as fear of harming patients, did not show a significant effect on anxiety (p > .05). The findings indicate that some specific challenges in the clinical placement environment significantly contribute to increased anxiety among nursing students. Addressing these problems may help create a more supportive and psychologically safe clinical learning environment.