Evaluating The Challenges That Nursing Students Faced With E- Learning During Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction: Higher education institutions have been extremely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. E-learning was the option used during lockdown in Albania and all around the world. Students were obligated to interrupt face to face education and clinical practice. This situation put the academic institutions in difficulty because both lecturers, students and other members of university institutions have to face a new way of teaching and learning. The aim of this study is to evaluate the challenges that nursing students faced during online learning because of lockdown and offer solution to improve this way of teaching and learning. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. The study was conducted at Faculty of Technical Medical Science, Tirana. Subjects: the population study were students of the third and fourth year of bachelor degree, master of science and professional master. They took part by voluntary way. Participants completed a self -administrated questionnaires. In this questionnaire there were questions related the efficiency of e-learning and problems related with it. Results: The highest percentage of students presented problems with the Internet during the study period; 40.1% of them did not agree to online learning; high percentage of results related to the inappropriateness of the online semester methodology; 46% of the interviewers do not believe in the continuation of online learning. Regarding the health problems, the students presented the highest percentage of headaches and stress. A significant association between gender, study field and stress level with p=0.000, p=0.002. The results are reported using descriptive statistics with counts and absolute percentages. A chi-square test was used to establish associations between variables. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 20.0 statistical package. Conclusions: Students showed no preference for distance learning versus face to face. Teachers should take appropriate steps to enhance e-teaching to improve it.