Nursing Students' Experiences of Pursuing Competency in Nursing amidst COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Purpose. This study aimed to investigate the final year nursing students' experiences of pursuing competency in nursing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Design and Methods. An explanatory descriptive qualitative design study was conducted between May and June 2021. Data were collected by conducting in-depth semistructured online (Zoom) interviews using a pilot-tested interview guide. A digital platform (Zoom) was applied for online individual interviews. The participants were 23 final-year nursing students. Findings. The results of the study revealed three main themes: (1) missed learning opportunities, (2) future concerns, and (3) communication difficulties. Nursing students' experiences were mainly negative with a specific focus on missed learning opportunities, concerns about their future role in the profession, and questioning their skills from communication skills to competency. Practice Implications. The study results underline the concerns of nursing students who were students during the COVID-19 outbreak, in particular about their competency. Due to COVID-19, nursing students had to take some of their clinical placements online, which in turn interrupted the students' professional transition process. The results of this study are important in increasing nursing students' competencies by providing a deeper understanding of their experiences and planning practices to ensure an uninterrupted transition process.