Effect of a Brief Mindfulness-Based Training on First Clinical Day Stress in First-Year Nursing Students

NCT07523087 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: MINDFUL-NURS-2026
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 63
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Clinical practice is a fundamental component of nursing education; however, it can be a major source of stress, particularly for first-year students. The first clinical day is often associated with high levels of anxiety due to uncertainty, fear of making mistakes, and perceived inadequacy. Mindfulness-based approaches have been shown to enhance coping skills and facilitate adaptation to clinical environments. However, most existing interventions are long-term, and evidence regarding short, pre-clinical interventions is limited. This randomized controlled trial aims to examine the effect of a brief mindfulness-based training administered one day before clinical placement on reducing anticipatory stress and first clinical day stress among first-year nursing students. Participants will be randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Data will be collected using the Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). The findings are expected to contribute to evidence-based improvements in pre-clinical preparation in nursing education.

Conditions

Stress; Mindful Breathing Meditation; Mindfulness; Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction; Clinical Practice

Keywords

clinical stres; Nursing education; mindfullness; First clinical day; Randomized controlled trial

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Perceived clinical stress level

  Measured using the Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students

  T0: One day before first clinical day practice T1: End of first clinical day

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Mindfulness level

  T0: Pre-intervention T1: End of first clinical day

Study Arms (2)

Brief Mindfulness-Based Training

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention planned in the study was a brief mindfulness-based training program. Students in the intervention group, preparing for their initial clinical practice, received mindfulness-based training in four different sessions before their clinical internships. The training included short mindfulness exercises aimed at breath awareness, body awareness, awareness of thoughts and feelings, reducing stress, and increasing present moment awareness.

Behavioral: Brief Mindfulness-Based Training

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

The control group students will receive routine clinical preparation as part of the standard nursing curriculum. No additional intervention or training will be administered prior to their first clinical practice. Participants in this group will proceed with their usual pre-clinical orientation process and will not receive the mindfulness-based training provided to the intervention group.

Interventions

Brief Mindfulness-Based Training BEHAVIORAL

The intervention planned in this study is a brief mindfulness-based training program. Students in the experimental group, preparing for their first clinical practice, received four separate mindfulness-based training sessions before their first clinical day experience. The training included breath awareness, body awareness, awareness of thoughts and feelings, and short mindfulness exercises. Students in the experimental group completed the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) before the mindfulness training session and the Perceived Stress Scale one day before the clinical practice. Students in the control group completed both the MAAS and the Perceived Stress Scale one day before the clinical practice. Students in both the experimental and control groups completed the MAAS and the Perceived Stress Scale again at the end of their first clinical day. Differences between the groups will be evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the intervention on stress and mindful awarenes

Brief Mindfulness-Based Training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• First-year nursing students
• First clinical practice experience
• Voluntary participation

You may not qualify if:

• Refusal to participate in the study
• Prior awareness training received
• Absence

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Suleyman Demirel University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi

Isparta, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Asst. Prof.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 4, 2026
• First Posted: April 13, 2026
• Study Start: February 19, 2026
• Primary Completion: February 25, 2026
• Study Completion: February 26, 2026
• Last Updated: April 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)