Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Clinical Education: Looking Through Lens of Intern Nursing Students

Abstract

The active participation of nursing students in clinical practice during the Covid-19 pandemic has played a critical role in maintaining patient care and the struggle against the pandemic. However, the limited clinical experience of the students caused them to have many problems in this process. In addressing the effects of the pandemic on clinical education, the opinions of the nursing students who experience the process in person is quite valuable. This study aims to investigate the perceptions and experiences of intern nursing students receiving clinical education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was carried out using the phenomenological research model from qualitative research methods. The research participants consisted of intern nursing students (n = 23). The research data were obtained using the semi-structured question form created by the researchers. The data were recorded in a computer environment, read in depth, analyzed through the content analysis method, and categorized into specific themes and sub-themes. The mean age of the students was 22.09±1.125 years. Female students constituted 91.3% of the sample. As a result of the focus group interviews, four main themes were identified: emotional effects, social effects, professional effects, and recommendations on clinical education. It was determined that nursing students receiving clinical education during the pandemic were determined to be affected in emotional, social, and professional aspects. In addition, the nursing students made certain recommendations to overcome the process more easily.