Learning to Care, Fearing What Lies Ahead: Future Anxiety Among Student Nurses

Background: Nursing students often experience future anxiety as they prepare for professional life. Understanding the factors that influence this anxiety is essential for developing effective support strategies.
Aim: This study aimed to examine future anxiety levels among nursing students and identify associated individual and contextual factors.

Methods: A descriptive study was conducted with 211 nursing students at a foundation university in Istanbul. Data were collected through a Personal Information Form and the Future Anxiety Scale for University Students. Data were collected face-to-face. The Pearson correlation test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and independent samples t-test were used for data analysis.

Results: The participants had a mean age of 21.29 years and a mean grade point average (GPA) of 3.00. Participants reported moderate levels of future anxiety (mean: 2.85; standard deviation: 0.55), with greater concern about uncertainty than hopelessness. Significant factors associated with elevated anxiety included year of study, living arrangements, career plans, readiness to practice, prior clinical experiences, and perceptions of societal views on nursing. Third-year students and those intending to work as nurses after graduation reported higher levels of fear about the future. Students who had negative clinical experiences or were dissatisfied with the public image of nursing also exhibited higher anxiety levels. No significant associations were found with age, gender, or grade point average.

Conclusion: The findings underscore the need for supportive educational strategies and psychosocial interventions to reduce future anxiety among nursing students.

Keywords: Anxiety, future anxiety, nursing, students