Clinical Practice Experience of Nursing Students in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the practical training experiences of nursing students during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and investigated their experience during their practical training.Methods: Data were collected between April 29 and June 24, 2021. The 29 participants chosen from three universities in the study were either fourth-year students or graduated in 2021 after attending nursing college, and they had taken at least one semester of practical training including alternative practice training after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Inductive content analysis was employed for data analysis.Results: Based on the analysis of data from focus group interviews, the following four categories and 11 theme clusters were drawn from 235 key statements: (1) situational change in the clinical practice environment; (2) perceived difficulties in developing core competencies as a nursing student; (3) unstandardized alternative practical training procedures; and (4) demand for systematic improvement in practical training while maintaining social distancing.Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate the need for effective and constructive practical clinical training in order for nursing students to achieve productive learning from practical training while maintaining social distancing, Alternative training modalities should continue to be developed and reviewed.