A national survey of the impact of COVID-19 on personal, academic, and work environments of nursing students

Abstract

Background: Nursing students are experiencing life changing events in their personal, academic, and work environments since the onset of the pandemic.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe and explore the effects of COVID-19 on personal, workforce, and academic experiences of nursing students (N = 620).

Method: A 68-item survey with three areas of focus surrounding academic, workforce and personal experiences was distributed to multiple schools across the United States. The analysis compares student responses from the five regions of the US.

Findings: Significant differences were found in the pairwise comparisons. The analysis revealed the academic changes were generally viewed as negative. Fear/anxiety and political influences impacted the outcomes of the pandemic.

Discussion: Understanding the effects of the pandemic on the personal, work and academic experiences of nursing students will assist academia and healthcare in adapting existing policies to meet student needs in the various regions of the United States.

Keywords: Academic policies; COVID-19; Fear; Nursing students; Politics; Workforce.