Alternative Clinical Practice Experiences of Korean Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: Routine clinical practice (RCP) experiences provide nursing students with the opportunity to gain confidence in their professional roles. The purpose of this study was to explore the alternative clinical practice (ACP) experiences of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic using the Q methodology. Methods: Fifty-two nursing students located in four cities across South Korea participated. The participants sorted the order of and ranked 41 Q statements about their experiences with ACP into a Q sort table; the data were analyzed using the PQ method. Results: The following three distinct viewpoints were extracted: (1) ACP helps with balancing learning and life (favorable view of ACP); (2) ACP does not help with balancing theory and clinical field practice (critical view of ACP); and (3) RCP cannot be replaced by ACP (negative view of ACP). Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that developing a curriculum for clinical practice that can enhance the strengths of ACP while compensating for its weaknesses will help promote learning among nursing students.

The Relationship Between On-Site Clinical Practice, Nursing Professional Value, and Nursing Clinical Self-Efficacy During COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Yip et al 26 found that male students had negative perspectives on limited clinical placements in women’s ward practice due to cultural context and gender bias, which differed from the clinical experiences of medical students without restrictions. Ha 27 found that students have a mixed view of online-based clinical education, either negative or positive, when they are unable to go to the hospital due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Barison et al 28 found that students felt the value of the profession through direct participation in COVID-19 ward practice, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”