Being a nursing student in times of COVID-19

Baixinho, Cristina Lavareda; Ferreira, Óscar Manuel Ramos

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/39144

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Authors

Baixinho, Cristina Lavareda

Ferreira, Óscar Manuel Ramos

Abstract(s)

Aim: To understand how the pandemic has affected nursing students in clinical teaching contexts. Method: This was a qualitative, exploratory, cross-sectional, and descriptive study. The participants were five newly graduated nurses who had completed the last clinical internship of their program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The narratives were analyzed using content analysis. Results: Five categories emerged: Difficulties felt in integration; difficulties in completing clinical internship; the influence of the pandemic on students’ expectations regarding the clinical internship for integration into professional life; fears related to COVID-19, and suggestions for training nursing graduates to prepare them to manage pandemic situations. Conclusions and implications for practice: The clinical internship was experienced with anxiety, fear, and pressure to achieve the skills required for professional practice, with the possible support provided by clinical supervisors, who were also under pressure given the increased work overload caused by the pandemic. The study allows for recommendations for the area of nursing education and research.