Nursing students’ willingness to work in COVID-19 pandemic: The role of knowledge and perceived competence: An Example FromTurkey

Abstract

Introduction:This study aims to evaluate nursing students' willingness to work voluntarily during the COVID-19 pandemic and related factors. Material and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted with 3rd and 4th year nursing students from March to May 2021. The Competency Inventory of Nursing Students assessment scale and data collection form prepared by researchers were used as data collection tools. Multivariable and univariable binary logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the factors affecting nursing students' willingness to voluntarily work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: This study was conducted with 240 nursing students (response rate=69.2%). It was found that the family members of 52.5% and friends of 68.8% of the nursing students participating in this study had and recovered from COVID-19. In this study, 71.7% of the students stated that they were volunteer to work in the COVID-19 pandemic. The students stated that if sufficient personal protective equipment was provided (81.7%), special training was given (80.4%), and transportation and accommodation were provided (80.0%), they would volunteer to work during the pandemic period. And all of the students (98.3%) gave correct answers to the question about the most common symptoms and that asymptomatic people could be contagious, the question regarding the mortality rate of the disease was answered correctly by 10.4% of the students.The findings showed that as the "Nursing Students' Competency Scale" score increased, the probability of volunteering to work during the pandemic period increased [OR = 1,005; 95% CI, 1,001-1,01] (p = .033). Nursing students who used official sources to learn about COVID-19 disease, compared to others [OR = 3,241; 95% CI, 1,028], were more likely to be willing to work during the pandemic (p = .003). The level of knowledge was not a significant predictor of students' willingness to work during the pandemic period (p=.326). Conclusion:The findings obtained in this study reflect the significance of directing students to obtain information from the right sources and developing their perceptions of competence in nursing education to create support for the healthcare system by volunteering nursing students during the pandemic period.