Frontiers in Public Health· 2026Q1
A journey mapping study of internship stress among undergraduate nursing interns
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- 2026year
Short summary
A journey map identified four distinct periods of stress (Preparation, Shock, Adaptation, Differentiation) among 19 undergraduate nursing interns, revealing 36 themes across tasks, emotions, and pain points.
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Key points
- Internship stress evolves through four stages: Preparation, Shock, Adaptation, and Differentiation.
- A total of 36 stress-related themes were identified, categorized into tasks, emotional experiences, and pain points.
- Each stage of the internship presents unique stressors and emotional challenges for nursing interns.
- Findings provide a framework for developing stage-specific interventions to support interns.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Aim To explore the dynamic process of stress experienced by undergraduate nursing interns during clinical internships and to construct a journey map of internship stress in order to identify stage-specific stressors, emotional experiences, and pain points. Methods Using purposive sampling, 19 undergraduate nursing interns were recruited from five tertiary hospitals in Sichuan Province between May 2025 and March 2026. Data were collected at different stages of the internship through semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was employed for coding, and journey mapping was applied to integrate and visually represent the trajectory of stress over time. Results Internship-related stress among undergraduate nursing interns evolved across four periods: Preparation Period; Shock Period; Adaptation Period; Differentiation Period. A total of 36 themes were identified across three overarching dimensions—tasks, emotional experiences, and pain points—systematically illustrating the trajectory of stress evolution. Conclusion Stress among undergraduate nursing interns demonstrates a stage-based and dynamic trajectory, with distinct pain points and corresponding support needs at each stage. These findings provide empirical evidence for nursing educators and clinical managers to develop stage-specific, targeted interventions and to optimize internship support systems.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Frontiers in Public Health, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Leadership and ManagementNursing