Perceptions and Nursing Demands and Experiences in the Midst of an International Crisis (PANDEMIC): A Qualitative Study of Nurse Educators’ Experiences

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread disruption to nurse educators’ work, both within higher educational institutions and in clinical practice learning environments. In this study, we explored the experiences of nurse educators in academic and clinical settings during COVID-19 and the impact the pandemic has had on their work. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 nurse educators from six different countries and used thematic analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding of nurse educators experiences during the pandemic. The participants’ experiences were classified into stages that reflected the intensity of the pandemic and resulted in four themes: (a) the calm before the storm, (b) battening down the hatches, (c) weathering the storm, and (d) silver linings. Understanding challenges and supporting nurse educators throughout the pandemic is essential to maintaining appropriate nursing education in both academic and clinical settings.