Navigating the Challenges and Mental Coping Strategies of Fourth-Year Nursing Students of Perpetual Help College of Manila

Abstract

Nursing education is a transformative journey that shapes students into competent and compassionate healthcare professionals. However, this path is often accompanied by multiple challenges academic pressure, clinical responsibilities, time management struggles, and emotional stress. These experiences demand not only intellectual capacity but also strong mental coping strategies to maintain balance and well-being. Fourth-year nursing students, in particular, face increasing academic expectations and practical workloads as they prepare to transition into professional practice. Effective coping mechanisms such as time management, reflection, and self-care become essential tools in navigating these challenges. Despite growing awareness of mental health in nursing education, limited research focuses on the coping strategies employed by nursing students within the Philippine context, especially at Perpetual Help College of Manila. This study seeks to fill that gap by examining the challenges faced by fourth-year nursing students and identifying the coping mechanisms they utilize to maintain psychological resilience and academic performance.