The Perception of Preparedness in Undergraduate Nursing Students During COVID-19

Assessing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nursing Education: A National Study of Prelicensure RN Programs

“…Similar findings have resulted in increased calls for future work assessing how possible learning deficiencies inform new graduates’ early career outcomes ( Lanahan et al, 2022 ). In this study, early career performance and diagnostic critical thinking metrics did indeed reveal consistent results, albeit with some nuances.…”

“…Furthermore, the report also confirms that nurses are experiencing heightened levels of burnout and stress due to the pandemic (Martin, Kaminski-Ozturk, O'Hara, & Smiley, 2023). When one also considers that this study and others ( Crismon et al, 2021 ; Bultas & L’Ecuyer, 2022 ; Lanahan et al, 2022 ) have clearly documented recent graduates’ perceived clinical deficiencies, today’s new nurses may feel they are in a more precarious position than their predecessors. Thus, an urgent demand exists for practice partners to respond to the needs of new graduate nurses and facilitate transitions to early career practice that develop a sense of salience in this new healthcare landscape.…”

“…The onset of COVID-19 in the United States in early March 2020 ( Proclamation, No.1994 ) severely strained healthcare systems around the country ( Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 2022 ) and significantly disrupted traditional educational models (AACN, 2020). Compounding these issues further were the deleterious effects of the well-intentioned and often necessary policies put in place to mitigate the spread of the virus on prelicensure nursing education programs ( Bultas & L’Ecuyer, 2022 ; Lanahan et al, 2022 ; Crismon et al, 2021 ; Goldberg, 2020 ). This comprehensive four-phase longitudinal study provides substantial evidence on prelicensure RN students’ academic, engagement, and early career performance over the past 2.5 years.…”

“…By contrast, Crismon et al (2021) documented new nurse graduates’ frustration over the apparent mismatch between their clinical experiences and their role as nurses entering the profession during a global health crisis. Two other studies similarly noted that nurses’ perceived level of preparedness and their transition to the professional nursing role were adversely affected by the reduction in clinical time and transition to online learning ( Bultas & L’Ecuyer, 2022 ; Lanahan et al, 2022 ). Even more alarming, since the end of 2019, first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for U.S.-educated graduates have steadily declined by 7%–8% ( NCSBN, 2022 ).…”

“…Even more alarming, since the end of 2019, first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for U.S.-educated graduates have steadily declined by 7%–8% ( NCSBN, 2022 ). While preliminary, these disparate findings suggest a need for not only further insight into the impact of the pandemic on nursing education, but they also necessitate future studies assessing possible links to adverse patient outcomes ( Lanahan et al, 2022 ).…”