FACTORS IMPACTING NURSING STUDENTS WORKING with CHILDREN with HEMATOLOGICAL and ONCOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate factors related to experiences faced by nursing students as they complete their pediatric clinical rotation during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative research design was used in this descriptive study. Nineteen fourth-year nursing students were included in the sample. Inductive content analysis were used to assess the data for content analysis. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) was used to structure and report the study. Content analysis revealed two main themes, two categories of factors impacting nursing students working with children with hematological and oncological malignancies were extracted from the data. The two main themes included factors related challenges of clinical experience and facilitators for clinical experience. Factors related challenges of clinical experience consisted of four categories, including being a pediatric patient, physical problems, communication barrier, and negative feelings. Factors related facilitators for clinical experience consisted of four categories, including child’s behavior, student’s feeling, atmosphere in the ward, and characteristic of pediatric nurses. The COVID-19 pandemic increased negative feelings and experiences of nursing students in clinics, impacting their ability to cope with particularly challenging situations.