The Mental Status of Nursing Students in COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study

Objective: The Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively affected the mental health of individuals as well as their physical health. The mental health of nurse candidates is also important in this process. Therefore, it was aimed to evaluate the anxiety and mental states of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic in this study. Method: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 323 students in the nursing department of a university. Research data were collected by using "state anxiety inventory" and "mental health continuity scale-short form". Results: It was found that 78.9% of the nursing students were anxious in this period and there was a moderate inverse correlation between the state anxiety inventory and mental health continuity Scale scores of nursing students (r=-0.564; p<0.05). Conclusion: It was determined that, as the anxiety levels of nursing students who switched from formal education to online education during the COVID-19 pandemic increased, their mental well-being worsened. In line with these results, it is recommended to organize programs and establish guidance to strengthen students' anxiety management and coping mechanisms in educational institutions.