Academic Success of Nursing Students During A Global Pandemic

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to understand how students defined academic success while completing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Background: In 2020, the College of Nursing quickly transitioned to online learning for students in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was reported that the pandemic exacerbated student failures due to environmental conditions, changes in program location, and external stressors. Thus, the Student Success team wanted to understand if this transition affected students’ success. Method: Three team members completed 14 qualitative descriptive interviews with undergraduate nursing students over a three month period. Results: Using Colaizzi’s (1978) qualitative methodology, three themes emerged: Students’ Perspectives of Success, b) Students’ Experiences of In-Person Learning, and c) Students’ Experiences of Online Learning Results. Conclusion: Students summarized that academic success included good grades and the ability to apply their knowledge of course content versus memorization. Setting goals and developing new strategies for better grades improved their success.