Exploring the challenges and needs of nursing students in relation to OSCE exam stress - A qualitative study

Sep 20, 2026

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The study explores how nursing students experience challenges and needs related to OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) stress, and what factors could mitigate negative psychological effects on well-being and learning outcomes. Using content analysis, interviews with 18 participants (12 students and 6 faculty) were analyzed through Graneheim and Lundman’s approach, with rigor supported by Guba and Lincoln criteria. Three main themes emerged, guiding comprehensive intervention recommendations to improve OSCE training, assessment processes, and student preparation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages23

Reading Time58 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

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OPEN ACCESS Citation: Hosseini FA, Hemati M, Shaygan M, Gheysari S, Jaberi A, Ghobadi M, et al. (2025) Exploring the challenges and needs of nursing students in relation to OSCE exam stress: A qualitative study. PLoS One 20(7): e0327898 . [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327898](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327898)[ ](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327898)Editor: Christmal Dela Christmals, North-West University Potchefstroom Campus: North-West University, SOUTH AFRICA Received: March 15, 2025 Accepted: June 23, 2025 Published: July 14, 2025 Copyright: © 2025 Hosseini et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Data availability statement: All relevant data are within the manuscript and its Supporting Information files. Funding: This study was funded by the Virtual University of Medical Sciences ([https://](https://)[ ](https://)[en.smums.ac.ir](en.smums.ac.ir)) in the form of a grant (466) RESEARCH ARTICLE Exploring the challenges and needs of nursing students in relation to OSCE exam stress: A qualitative study Fahimeh Alsadat Hosseini1, Mehrvash Hemati1, Maryam Shaygan1*, Somayeh Gheysari2, Azita Jaberi1, Mojtaba Ghobadi1, Shoeleh Rahimi2 1 Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, 2 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran * [m2620.shaygan@gmail.com](m2620.shaygan@gmail.com) Abstract Background The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a critical assessment method in nursing education but is often associated with significant stress, negatively impacting students’ psychological well-being and academic performance. Understanding the sources of OSCE-related stress and effective coping strategies is crucial for improving nursing education. The aim of this study is to explore the challengesand needs of nursing students regarding OSCE stress. Methods Using content analysis, 18 participants (12 nursing students and 6 faculty members) from a nursing school in Shiraz, Iran, were interviewed through in-depth, semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman’s content analysis approach, ensuring rigor through Guba and Lincoln’s trustworthiness criteria. Results The analysis identified three main themes: ‘implementing OSCE stress management strategies,’‘enhancing OSCE education and assessment processes,’ and ‘preparing students for OSCE.’ These themes reflect the key challenges and effective factors influencing OSCE-related stress among nursing students. Conclusion There is a need for comprehensive interventions, including effective stress management strategies, improvements in OSCE training and evaluation methods, and structured preparation programs. Addressing these factors can alleviate OSCE-related PLOS One | [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327898](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327898) July 14, 2025 1 / 23 received by MS. No additional external funding was received for this study. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. stress and enhance student performance. Nursing educators and policymakers should integrate these insights to optimize OSCE implementation, ultimately fostering better psychological resilience and academic success among nursing students. Introduction It is essential for universities to ensure that nursing students possess the requisite knowledge and clinical skills before they are permitted to practice as registered nurses [ 1 ,2] . Therefore, evaluating the clinical competencies of unde

FAQs

What is the OSCE focus in this qualitative study?

The study focuses on OSCE-related stress in nursing education and the challenges and needs nursing students express in relation to that stress.

How was the data collected and analyzed?

Eighteen participants from a nursing school in Shiraz, Iran were interviewed using in-depth semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed via Graneheim and Lundman’s content analysis approach with rigor assessed using Guba and Lincoln trustworthiness criteria.

What themes describe OSCE-related stress challenges and solutions?

The analysis identified three themes: implementing OSCE stress management strategies, enhancing OSCE education and assessment processes, and preparing students for OSCE.

Sep 20, 2026

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