Nursing students’ experiences with clinical practice during and receding the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study in Norway

The present study aims to give insight to the experiences of nursing students during 3 years of clinical practice. The focus is on challenges and adaptations during their first 2 years of study because of the COVID-19 restrictions, as well as on how they perceived the differences between digital and physical presence of teachers in clinical practice during their last year of studies once the pandemic receded. A qualitative approach was used to analyse responses to open-ended questions from 47 third-year undergraduate nursing students at a Norwegian University. The study was reported according to Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines. The analysis revealed two main themes: 1) an uncertain learning universe and 2) receding pandemic and restrictions. Three subthemes were identified within theme one: changes in clinical practice; fear of being sick; and taking responsibility. Within theme two, two subthemes were revealed: physical meetings and the receding pandemic. The findings indicate that students experienced uncertainty in their learning environment both during and after the pandemic, heightened by concerns of virus exposure, ultimately increasing their responsibility for self-directed learning. Insufficient clinical practice time and limited patient interactions were sources of stress, impeding students’ ability to meet curricular learning objectives. When pandemic restrictions were eased, students reported feeling more at ease and less burdened.