Findings. The proposed factor structure for the items measuring ‘Uplifts’ proved to
be a good fit to the data and the proposed factor structure for the items measuring
‘Hassles’ showed adequate fit.
Conclusion. In nursing programmes adopting the academic model and combining
university-based learning with placement experience, this instrument can be used to
help identify the sources of stress or course demands that students rate as distressing
and those that help them to achieve. The validity of the ISSN could be further
evaluated in other education settings.