Nursing student and faculty narratives during COVID-19 pandemic: Challenges and recommendations from a Canadian perspective

Brenda Orazietti*, Sandra Peniston, Zubaida Mohammed, Hermila Demelie, Jemina Frances Duldulao, Misbah Rao

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Introduction
COVID-19 affected nursing students' and faculty's psychological and physical well-being worldwide. The final clinical placement for fourth-year nursing students during the third wave of COVID-19 in Toronto, Canada, included direct patient care without the eligibility for vaccination. Being a student nurse during the pandemic and the faculty's insight into teaching and supporting students during this time is a unique experience.

Objective
The study aimed to discover and examine nursing students, and faculty lived experiences during the third wave of the COVID-19.

Methods
This study used a qualitative phenomenological design with thematic analysis. A voluntary response sample of eighty participants shared their narratives of working and teaching during January - May 2021. In addition, an optional interview guide offered open-ended questions requiring reflection. The study was conducted in a nursing school in Toronto, Canada during fourth-year baccalaureate students final clinical placement settings.

Results
A total of 77 fourth-year baccalaureate nursing students and 3 faculty members participated. Thematic analysis of nursing student narratives identified four main themes: (i) fear and anxiety and their impact on student's physical and mental health; (ii) impact on students' learning environments; (iii) intrinsic and extrinsic factors that enabled students to persevere; and (iv) how to deal with future pandemics. Thematic analysis of faculty narratives identified three main themes: (i) the importance of preparatory work; (ii) psychological and physical manifestations of supporting students; and (iii) the resilience of students and faculty.

Conclusion
For future disease outbreaks and other large-scale health events, nurse educators need to understand and plan strategies for the multidimensional psychological and physical effects placed on themselves and students practicing in high-risk clinical settings. However, reflections from this study should be extended to all clinical practice settings. It is important for nursing schools to rethink fourth year students' experiences, perceptions, and feelings to determine how their susceptibility to physical and psychological distress can be minimized.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-10
Number of pages10
JournalSAGE open nursing
Volume9
Early online date12 Jun 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • coronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • nursing students
  • nursing faculty
  • nursing education

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