
11 January 2023
Students satisfied with learning during the pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the conditions for clinical supervisors changed dramatically with an increased workload and many new employees to introduce to intensive care. A recently published scientific article shows that the students experienced a good learning environment despite the tutors' stressful work situation.
Researchers in nursing have turned their attention to university students. In a new scientific study, they have investigated the experience of being a student on internship in a heavily strained healthcare system characterized by an ongoing pandemic. The study focuses on specialist nursing students in intensive care and their learning during the covid-19 pandemic, in relation to independence and professional development.
“We thought it would be very tough to be a student in this situation. But in spite of the pandemic, many students were very satisfied with the learning. This may have to do with the fact that they had to be more independent. I think they grew with the task. At the same time, there were situations where the students felt that they had to take on too much responsibility, so a balance is needed,” says Åsa Engström, Professor in Nursing at Luleå University of Technology and one of the researchers behind the study.
Positive experiences of learning
The study is based on individual interviews with eight intensive care students who have had their work-based training during the COVID-19 pandemic. In general, the students felt that they received the best possible guidance based on the special circumstances that prevailed and their experiences of the learning were positive. At the same time, they were worried about being a burden to supervisors and they were anxious to be able to contribute to patient care. The supervisors were perceived as competent and secure in their profession, but the students could also feel stress and a sense of inadequacy in the supervisors.
One of the students said:
“…how they manage to be so nice and educational despite having such a large workload and burden of care, that’s amazing, and still kind of take time for me as a student and let me feel important and not in the way, I think it’s been very good in that way. And you’ve had the opportunity to develop in a way I believe you wouldn’t have done if it hadn’t been for this exceptional situation.”
“The fact that the students develop with responsibility is something we can take into account in the education in the future. When they have come a little along the way, they can benefit from working independently. At the same time, we must remember that these students are qualified nurses with experience who are undergoing specialist training,” says Åsa Engström.
More about the research
The article Learning in intensive care during the COVID-19 pandemic postgraduate critical care nursing students’ experiences External link, opens in new window. is published in International Journal of Medical Education.
The research is part of a collaborative project between Karlstad University, Luleå University of Technology, Region Värmland and Swedish Red Cross University. The project is financed by Karlstad University and Region Värmland.
At Luleå University of Technology, in addition to specialist nursing with a focus on Intensive Care, there is also specialist training in Pre-hospital Emergency care, Anaesthesia Care, Primary Health Care, Theatre Care, Psychiatric Care and Care for the elderly.
In addition to specialist nursing with a focus on Intensive Care, there is also specialist training in Pre-hospital Emergency care, Anaesthesia Care, Primary Health Care, Theatre Care, Psychiatric Care and Care for the elderly.
Published:
Updated: