Nursing Students’ Duty to Care Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: Research examining undergraduate nursing students’ duty to care during the COVID-19 pandemic is lacking, thus presenting many challenges in nursing education. Significance: This research adds to the literature about nursing students’ duty to care and willingness to respond in the clinical setting early in the COVID-19 pandemic. This research will inform nurse leaders and regulators on ways to safely mobilize a nursing workforce to fill critical nursing roles needed during a pandemic. Methodology: This research study utilized a descriptive, cross-sectional design. The Nash Duty to Care Scale© was used to examine nursing students’ duty to care early in the COVID-19 pandemic at two nursing programs in New York. Results: Most of the nursing students (65.8%) reported a duty to care or a willingness to respond during the COVID-19 pandemic. Perceived obligation and perceived risk were the most predictive subscales between the low and high duty to care groups. Conclusions and recommendations: It is suggested that nursing schools maintain adequate emergency response resources (i.e. personal protective equipment and effective communication) for students in the clinical setting. Enhanced academic and practice partnerships with clear and specific nursing student policies and procedures are needed.