Clinical learning of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Limpopo province, South Africa

Abstract

Background: The Nursing Education Programme was affected during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, resulting in nursing students being unable to participate in the clinical experiential learning required by the South African Nursing Council. Objectives: The study seeks to explore and describe nursing students’ experiences of clinical experiential learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A qualitative, explorative and descriptive, research design was used in the study. A non-probability purposive sampling method was used, and 55 nursing students participated in the study. Data were collected through six focus group discussions, consisting of 8–12 nursing students in each group. Data were analysed following Tesch’s open coding method. Results: Three themes emerged from the study’s findings: The impact of COVID-19 on the clinical experiential learning of nursing students, the effects of COVID-19 on the mental well-being of nursing students, and nursing students’ experiences of support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, 11 sub-themes emerged. Conclusion: The findings of this study reveal that the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted the Nursing Education Programme, highlighting the challenges of inadequate clinical hours, restricted clinical access and the significant psychological impact on students. Contribution: This study adds to the literature on students’ experiences during clinical experiential learning in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic.