Students’ experiences of moral challenges in clinical placement during the covid-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

Background: Care in a crisis, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, might entail moral challenges for nursing students. Aim: The aim of this study was to gain knowledge of nursing students' experiences of moral challenges arising when caring for patients in clinical placement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study has a qualitative design with individual interviews of nine nursing students. Data were analysed using the six-step model of thematic analysis. Findings: The students' experienced moral challenges when caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three themes were defined: The double fear of infection, mixed feelings of being a "hero" and an "over-worked pushover" and compromising on basic knowledge and values. Conclusion: The findings described the students' experiences of morally challenging situations that arose when caring for patients during COVID-19 pandemic. The students were drawn between feelings of being appreciated and needed and feelings of being powerless.