Innovations in Nursing Education in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has transformed the delivery of nursing education. This scoping review identified innovative improvements or changes in nursing education developed by nursing faculty in response to the COVID-19 pandemic globally. This is a scoping review using Arksey and O’Malley framework, refined by Joanna Briggs Institute. Three electronic databases were searched to identify studies published between December 2019 and December 2021, irrespective of design. Guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Statement for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility of the studies, and multiple reviewers extracted the studies. Two reviewers crosschecked 10% of the extracted data to ensure accuracy and consistency. We grouped and described conceptual categories narratively. Of the 1339 retrieved papers, 111 met eligibility criteria. Most studies were from North America (69; 62.2%) and involved undergraduate nursing students (80; 72.1%). Many studies (61; 55.0%) were letters, commentaries, and editorials that offered short communications on ongoing innovative interventions. Reported nursing education innovations included online or virtual alternatives to face-to-face delivery (68; 61.3%), online or virtual alternatives to clinical placement (39; 35.1%) and faculty development (4; 3.4%). Reported outcomes included students’ satisfaction and intervention experiences. The reported innovations were crucial in mitigating the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic for nursing education. Nurse educators are presented with a unique opportunity to embrace and build on the emerging pedagogies even after the global emergency. Further research must focus on 1) understanding the sustainability and enduring effects of the identified innovations in the post-pandemic period; 2) supporting students and faculty with new learning platforms, and 3) the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on undergraduate and postgraduate nursing education.