Nursing Students’ Perception toward Shifting to Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic at Urgent and Planned Situations

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively affected the learning strategies of nursing faculties, causing the temporary lockdown of universities and sudden shift of traditional learning to online learning without prior preparation. As lockdown continues, preparation of educational process for online learning takes place. Aim: We aimed to compare nursing students’ perception toward online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic at urgent and planned situations. Research design: A descriptive study was conducted. Setting: Data were collected at the Faculty of Nursing of Kafrelsheikh University in Egypt. Study subjects: By stratified randomization, we recruited 1004 students who already shifted to online learning during the pandemic and divided them into the urgent and planned situation groups (502 per group). Tools: Two tools were utilized: students’ technical-related data and students’ perception toward online learning, benefits, and possible challenges. Results: A statistically significant difference in nursing students’ perception toward online learning (χ2 = 356.215*, p < 0.001*) between the periods of urgent and planned situations, approximately one-quarter (20.7%) of the urgent group compared with the majority (80.3%) in the planned group had a positive overall perception. Conclusion: Nursing students’ perception during the period of planned online learning was better than that during the period of urgent online learning. Recommendations: We recommend introducing the latest innovations of online learning for both theoretical and practical lectures, including 3D virtual learning environment for practical lectures.