LAUSR

PURPOSE To determine the effects of progressive muscle relaxation exercise (PMRE) on clinical stress and burnout in student nurse interns. DESIGN AND METHODS This is a randomized controlled trial. Interns were divided into control group (CG; n = 78) or experimental group (EG; n = 67) randomly. PMRE was performed by students in the EG. Personal information form, Burnout Measure Short Version (BMS) and Physio-Psycho-Social Response Scale (PPSRS) for nursing students were administered to both groups in the first and last meeting. FINDINGS There was a significant difference in posttest scores between groups; EG posttest scores on the BMS, on the PPSRS, and subscales were lower than those of the CG. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS PMRE training ameliorates burnout and PPSRs to stress during clinical practice in nursing students.