Perceived Stress and Sense of Belonging in Doctor of Nursing Practice Students

There is little research among doctor of nursing practice (DNP) students, a fast-growing population of nurses engaged in doctoral study. In this descriptive correlational study, levels of perceived stress, sense of belonging, and the relationship between these variables were examined. The sample included 89 female, predominantly White, post-master's DNP students from a Midwest university. A statistically significant inverse relationship (r = −.49, P < .01) between perceived stress and sense of belonging was found. Recommendations for future research include additional studies of perceived stress and sense of belonging in diverse DNP student populations and in various DNP education models.