An Emotional and Physical Health Profile of Students Enrolled in a Public Nursing Program: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: This study aimed to analyze the health status of northeastern U.S. baccalaureate nursing students. Method: The sample for this cross-sectional analysis included 292 nursing students. Matriculated full- and part-time nursing students were invited to participate. Most of the sample represented individuals identifying as White, heterosexual women younger than age 25 years who lived off campus. Students across all 4 years of school were at high risk for burnout and experienced high rates of perceived stress but were satisfied with their lives. Results: Significant differences were found between housing status, physical activity, and burnout (t = –3.7926, df = 154.87, p = 2.13 × 10 – 5). On-campus students (n = 67) were significantly more active (t [65.8] = 1.69, p = .095) and less burned out than off-campus students (n = 189, t [154.8] = –3.79, p < .001). Conclusion: Future research is needed to examine academia’s role in the workforce’s burnout crisis, especially concerning students younger than age 25 years.