Background The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions in the implementation of programs across educational institutions. Nursing students, being both young adults and by practical training, part of the health care system, may be particularly vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to explore the associations between self-reported fear of COVID-19, general health, psychological distress and overall quality of life (QoL) in a sample of Norwegian baccalaureate nursing students compared to reference data. Methods The survey targeted baccalaureate nursing students from five universities in February 2021. An electronic questionnaire consisted of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), the Hopkins Symptom Checklist 5 (SCL-5), one general health and one overall QoL question. The respondents’ mean scores were compared to reference data. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted, and effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were evaluated. Results In total, 2605 out of 6088 (43%) students responded. Their FCV-19S scores (mean 2.45, CI 2.42, 2.48) were significantly higher than those of the reference population (mean 1.8, P < 0.001). Nursing students scores showed significantly lower general health (mean 3.50 ± 0.93 SD, population mean = 3.57, Cohen’s d = 0.07), higher levels of psychological distress (mean 2.68 ± 1.03 SD, population mean = 2.12, Cohen’s d = 0.55) and lower overall QoL (mean 5.50 ± 2.16 SD, population mean = 8.00, Cohen’s d = 1.16) compared to pre-pandemic reference data. FCV-19S scores were significantly associated with levels of general health (Cohen’s d = 0.26), psychological distress (Cohen’s d = 0.76) and overall QoL (Cohen’s d = 0.18). Conclusions Baccalaureate nursing students reported worse outcomes during the Covid-19 pandemic on general health, psychological distress and overall QoL compared to the reference population. Level of fear of Covid-19, however, accounted for few of these differences. Other factors related to the pandemic may have reduced nursing students’ overall QoL.

Training through simulation has shown to increase relevant and specific skills sets across a wide range of areas in nursing and related professions. Increasing skills has a reciprocal relation to the development of self-efficacy. A study was conducted to assess changes in the development of self-efficacy in simulation training for 2nd year nursing students. Initial emotional states, pre and post self-efficacy, and expert ratings of simulation performance were assessed. Results show that students who displayed an increase in self-efficacy as a result of simulation training were also judged to perform better by expert ratings. The effect of simulation on self-efficacy could be influenced by initial states of physiological activation and over control. Results also showed that initial emotional states did not moderate self-efficacy development on outcome measures. These findings improve our understanding on the relationship between students’ self-efficacy and performance of practical skills and inform pedagogical designs and targeted interventions in relation to feedback and supervision in nursing education.

Background High levels of psychological distress and poor overall quality of life (QOL) have been identified among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic necessitated improvised reconstructions of educational curriculums and restrictions in clinical placement and training at campuses, possibly reducing educational quality. Objectives We explored whether baccalaureate nursing students’ concerns and satisfaction with the educational curriculum, focusing on the conduct of clinical training, were associated with perceived psychological distress and overall QOL. Methods Baccalaureate nursing students (N=6088) from five Norwegian universities were invited to an internet-based, cross-sectional survey during the second wave of the pandemic. The survey included COVID-19 specific questions on health, education and clinical training, the Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S), The Hopkins Symptom Checklist (SCL-5) and overall QOL. Data from national surveys on satisfaction with the educational curriculum, before and during the pandemic were used for comparison. Results In total, 2605 (43%) students responded, of whom 1591 (61%) had been engaged in clinical training during the pandemic. Overall, 53% were either satisfied or fully satisfied with their educational curriculum, with the level of satisfaction being significantly lower than pre-pandemic reference values. Also, 79% were concerned or highly concerned about the educational quality. In multiple regression analyses for all students, lower levels of satisfaction and higher levels of quality concerns were associated with worse SCL-5 scores. Furthermore, satisfaction with the educational curriculum was positively associated with overall QOL. For students engaged in clinical training, only concerns about infecting others were additionally associated with psychological distress. None of the items related to clinical training were associated with overall QOL. Conclusion Nursing students’ educational satisfaction and quality concerns may significantly impact perceived psychological distress and overall QOL during a pandemic. However, with necessary adaptations implemented, concerns regarding the conduct of clinical training account for little of these associations.

Aim To explore nurses' perspectives on technical skill requirements in primary and tertiary healthcare services and their perspectives on where students should learn these skills. Design The study was conducted in Norway and had a cross‐sectional, multicentre, descriptive design. Methods We used a questionnaire to explore registered nurses and intellectual disability nurses' perspectives on technical skill requirements and learning ( N = 437). Results All the skills included in the university college curricula were reported to be required, and most skills should from the respondents' perspective be learned in the university college. There were significant differences between registered nurses and intellectual disability nurses about their perspectives on skill learning, but no significant differences between respondents in the interface between hospital and municipality wards. Conclusions Results from this study indicate that nurses need extensive technical skills in both primary and tertiary health care. Findings also indicate a need to modify the university college curricula.

Kliniske ferdigheter er avgjørende for utvikling av operasjonssykepleiers kompetanse, men økte effektivitets-og produksjonskrav i spesialisthelsetjenesten kan representere en utfordring for studentenes ferdighetstrening og mestringstillitt. En høy mestringstillitt øker motivasjon, kognisjon, pågangsmot, interesse og initiativ til handling, noe som gir større mulighet for å lykkes. En kvantitativ pilot studie ble utført for å undersøke potensielle fordeler ved bruk av instruksjonsvideoer i laeringsprosessen av kliniske prosedyrer og deres bidrag for å bedre mestringstilliten til studenter innen videreutdanning i operasjonssykepleie. Fem instruksjonsvideoer med kliniske prosedyrer laget av faglaerere, var tilgjengelig for studentene gjennom hele studiet. I analysen benyttes deskriptiv statistikk ved oppsummerte størrelser og en 2-tailed Spearman's rho for å måle korrelasjoner mellom variablene. Studentene opplevde at videoene gjorde de bedre forberedt til klinisk praksis og resultatet viste en signifikant sammenheng mellom hvor hyppig videoene ble benyttet og variablene som måler mestringstillit. Gitt begrensninger for å øve kliniske prosedyrer kan video vaere en godt egnet laeringsressurs I laering av kliniske prosedyrer og har et potensiale til å fremme mestringstillit hos studenter. Antallet studenter gir begrensninger i studiens overførbarhet.