The Effects of Guided Imagery on Stress, State Anxiety, Test Anxiety and Core Basic Nursing Skill Performance Score of Undergraduate Nursing Students

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the effects of guided imagery on stress, state anxiety, test anxiety and core basic nursing skill performance score of undergraduate nursing student. Methods: An equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was utilized. A total of 45 senior nursing students were randomly assigned to either an intervention group to receive guided imagery, or a control group (experimental group=23 students, control group=22 students). The guided imagery was provided via audio files to the intervention group for eight minutes, once a day for five days. The pretest was given before the intervention to measure variables for both groups, and the posttest was performed immediately afterward and three days after the intervention. Results: Significant differences were found between the two groups in stress ((F=4.94, p=.012), state anxiety (F=5.99, p=.005), and basic core nursing skill performance scores (Z=-2.45, p=.015). Conclusion: Guided imagery for nursing students has been identified as effective for stress, state anxiety, and basic core nursing skill performance scores. Guided imagery can be used as an effective intervention before performance tests. These study results can provide useful data for nursing education. ? 2020, Official of Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education. All right reserved.