Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Professional Training of Student Nurse from Universities in Ghana.

Abstract

Introduction: On December 31, 2019, WHO was informed of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in some patients in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China (WHO, 2020). Viral testing detected a novel coronavirus disease in these patients. Subsequently, the disease progressed into a global pandemic. To curb the spread of the disease in Ghana, the government announced a series of comprehensive measures, including the closure of all schools; Basic, Junior High, Senior High and Universities. The health care workforce-in-training have been affected by this move, including student nurses who were just about to write their licensure examinations and continuing students.

Objectives: This study therefore sought to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the professional training of student nurses from universities in Ghana.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study using a descriptive design was used to include student nurses from various universities in Ghana.

Results: The major impact of the pandemic on the student nurses was the online learning medium which was adopted as the means of teaching and learning in the period. The students said that the online medium of instruction was deficient of the standard method the nursing education program is to be tutored. Results showed a significant difference (P=0.014) of the impact of the pandemic among the student nurses from the various universities.

Conclusion: The nursing profession continues to attract those who strive to help mankind, even in its darkest hours. Student nurses are no exception, as evidenced by their choice and determination to study and practice nursing.