School Nurses’ Perceptions About Student's Wellbeing During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Sweden

Abstract

The coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has affected both the private and public lives of people worldwide. Countries have chosen different strategies to reduce the spread of infection, including school closures and distance learning. This study aimed to describe school nurses’ perceptions about the wellbeing of students during the Covid-19 pandemic in Sweden. Interviews in five focus groups and one individual were conducted with 17 school nurses in Sweden. The interviews were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis. According to the school nurses’ perceptions, students were concerned about spreading infection, becoming infected themselves, their academic performances, and longing for socialization. The change in the school situation involved a slower pace and less anxiety for some students, more or less physical activity, and an increase in screen time.

School Nurses’ Perspectives on Health among School-Aged Children and Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…This result is consistent with those of Hörbo et al (2021) , who found that increased mental health problems during the pandemic were partly due to students’ worries about the future and the fact that leisure activities had ceased. Martinsson et al (2022) found that the change in the school situation during the pandemic brought about a slower pace and, for some students, less anxiety. Guessoum et al (2020) found that children and young people felt bad during periods when they needed to be quarantined and could not go to school.…”

“…This also increased the risk of mental health problems and isolation among students. In another study examining school nurses in Sweden, nurses indicated that students were concerned about spreading the infection, becoming infected themselves, and their academic performance, as well as longing for socialization ( Martinsson et al, 2022 ).…”

Attitudes and Feelings towards the Work of Teachers Who Had a School Nurse in Their Educational Center during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…On the other hand, Martinsson et al described in two studies that the school nurses in Sweden played an important role during the current pandemic by listening and providing reliable health information to students and teachers who were worried about contracting or transmitting the disease to their families, alleviating their concerns [ 13 ]. In addition, school nurses cooperated with teachers to implement the pertinent hygiene, health, and safety measures stipulated by the Public Health Agency to reduce infections in schools [ 14 ]. They also had online health consults with those students confined to their homes through video calls or by telephone, monitoring the evolution of their infection [ 14 ].…”

“…In addition, school nurses cooperated with teachers to implement the pertinent hygiene, health, and safety measures stipulated by the Public Health Agency to reduce infections in schools [ 14 ]. They also had online health consults with those students confined to their homes through video calls or by telephone, monitoring the evolution of their infection [ 14 ].…”

Adolescents’ Experience of Stress: A Focus Group Interview Study with 16–19-Year-Old Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Students aged 16–19 had distance education during the pandemic but people were, for example, always allowed to walk outdoors [ 22 ]. School nurses found that adolescents were concerned about spreading infection, becoming infected themselves, their academic performances, and longing for socialization [ 23 ]. School nurses tried to alleviate stress among adolescents through being easily assessable and providing tools for stress management [ 24 ].…”