Obstacles of Online Learning Facing Nursing Students after the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: After the COVID-19 pandemic, the online style of instruction started to replace the traditional style in Jordan.

Aims: This study aims to (1) assess the nursing students' perceived obstacles to online learning in Jordan; (2) explore significant relationships between participants' characteristics and their perceived obstacles; and (3) assess for significant differences in the perceived obstacles based on participants' characteristics.

Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive design was utilized in this study. A convenient sample of 325 nursing students responded to a self-reported questionnaire utilizing Google Forms. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the dataset using the SPSS software.

Results: The mean scores of the obstacles to online learning were 2.94 (SD = 0.95) for the academic obstacles subscale, 2.90 (SD = 0.83) for the technological obstacles subscale, and 3.25 (SD = 1.00) for the administrative obstacles subscale. Significant associations were found between participants' characteristics and perceived obstacles to online learning. For instance, the type of university was significantly associated with academic (r = -0.32, p < 0.01), technological (r = -0.21, p < 0.01), and administrative obstacles (r = -0.32, p < 0.01). Furthermore, significant differences were found in the perceived obstacles based on the participants' demographic and studentship-related characteristics.

Conclusions: According to their perceptions of online learning, nursing students in Jordan face three types of obstacles: academic, technical, and administrative. Decision-makers should intervene to enhance the online learning experience by overcoming the reported obstacles.