Stress and Coping Strategies among Clinical Instructors in Nursing Schools in Davao Oriental

To address the occupational strain resulting from overlapping academic, clinical, and administrative responsibilities, this descriptive correlational study investigated the primary stressors and coping mechanisms of 33 nursing clinical instructors at Mati Doctors College and Davao Oriental State University. Using a 108-item adapted questionnaire administered via convenience sampling, the study found that this predominantly early-career cohort (aged 27–32 years, 32.4%) experienced the highest stress from student-related factors (M = 2.71) and the pervasive pressure to complete all outstanding daily tasks (M = 2.82). Despite these environmental and role-based demands, instructors primarily relied on self-recognition (M = 3.65) as their leading coping strategy, with statistical analyses indicating no significant differences in stress levels across sociodemographic variables. Ultimately, to sustain faculty well-being and instructional efficacy, the study advocates for institutional interventions focused on effective workload management, supportive work environments, and targeted professional development programs.