Clinical Practice Experience of Nursing Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the clinical practice experience of nursing students during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: We used the qualitative content analysis steps presented by Graneheim and Lundman. The participants were 11 nursing students from two universities. We collected data by iterative work through in-depth interviews and observations and analyzed it using content analysis and dialogue between the authors to enhance interpretation. Results: Four themes emerged from the participants' clinical practice experiences during the pandemic: increased uncertainty in clinical practice and daily life, reduced opportunities for practice experiences and networking, differences in the meaning of clinical practice, and new implications of clinical practice. Conclusion: Participants were experiencing clinical practice, including themselves and the surrounding world, under the strong influence of the COVID-19. Therefore, the development of practice guidelines that can be communicated quickly between institutions, students, and universities and cope flexibly with the pandemic alarm levels will reduce uncertainty in clinical practice and minimize changes in activities and networking. Additionally, the nurses' professional intuition should be improved by expanding the awareness of nurse roles in clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.