Student Interviews Exploring the Influence of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Graduate Nursing Education

Abstract

Introduction Advanced practice nurses are needed to fill the primary healthcare gap in the United States. Advanced practice/graduate nursing students were profoundly affected by the coronavirus pandemic in ways that may impact their educational experience. Objective The objective of this study was to explore the influence of the coronavirus pandemic on the educational experience of graduate nursing students. Methods An exploratory descriptive qualitative study using semistructured video conferencing interviews of 11 graduate nursing students at one university in the United States was conducted during July 2020. Data were explored using theme analysis. Results Four themes expressing the pandemic's impact on graduate student experience were identified: Alteration in human connections; Agility in action; Collaborative construction of change; and Metamorphosis emerging from disruption. The pandemic brought an alteration in how students connected with faculty, other students, and family. Many faculty and students responded with agility to the new mandates for social distancing. The students and faculty worked together to construct changes needed to provide the students with the required components of graduate education. These factors together created a metamorphosis in the functioning of the institution, breaking through hierarchical barriers in academia. Conclusion The disruption in graduate nursing education due to the pandemic led to opportunities, including swift faculty innovation, a collaborative spirit between faculty and students, and new appreciation for connections with faculty and fellow students. Continuing intentional implementation of these opportunities would benefit students’ experiences moving forward.

The impact of COVID‐19 on nursing students' lives and online learning: A cross‐sectional survey

“…The majority of students did say they consulted the person they felt was most resourceful, and it seems that family and friends were the people who best fulfilled this need. Similar findings were also supported in other studies by Doolan et al (2020) and Nodine et al (2022) who reported that students are more likely to identify with family and to consult peers who are experiencing the same problems, rather than their educators, whom they prefer to consult for content material.…”

“…(2020) and Nodine et al. (2022) who reported that students are more likely to identify with family and to consult peers who are experiencing the same problems, rather than their educators, whom they prefer to consult for content material.…”

“…As a result, students were reluctant to directly and openly share their views during class time. Similarly, in a qualitative study, conducted byNodine et al (2022) nursing students lamented how they felt the need to maintain human connection and to communicate with faculty when lectures were moved online. Students addressed this need by contacting their educators often by phone, email or video conferences.…”

Nursing Instructors’ and Students’ Experiences of Transition from Face-to-Face Education to Virtual Education during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

“…However, some studies in previous epidemics reported that access to personal protective equipment improved students' desire for voluntary help and care provision to patients [50][51][52]. Moreover, clinical education during the pandemic can be provided in clinical laboratories [53] or vaccination clinics [54]. Tese strategies together with simulated environments, skill laboratories, educational videos, and discussions about clinical cases can be used to improve the quality of clinical education in epidemics.…”

Effectiveness of Blended Learning Competency Test among Nursing Profession Education

“…Based on the decision of the Ministry of Education and Culture, all tertiary institutions, higher education services, and schools are expected to provide online learning. One of the institutions required to implement the directive is nursing education (5,6). Online learning aims to prevent transmission of the COVID-19 virus, which is still very high.…”