Older Adult Patients’ Experiences of Being Care by Student Nurses during Clinical Practice in Hospital during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Older individuals face a higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness, necessitating special healthcare consideration. While nursing students are vital in bolstering healthcare teams during the pandemic, there remains limited understanding of their impact on older patients.

This study aimed to describe elderly patients’ experiences with nursing students during hospital clinical practice. A qualitative study interviewed ten older adult patients who received care from student nurses for at least two days between December 2022 and February 2023 in Nonthaburi, Thailand. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews.

The research uncovered two key themes: first, the significance of providing compassionate care, boosting patients’ mental well-being, and enhancing self-confidence; second, the focus on nursing students’ practical learning and identifying readiness gaps.

The study emphasizes integrating compassionate care, mental healing, and self-confidence enhancement into nursing school curricula to foster positive patient relationships and high-quality care. It also suggests addressing readiness deficiencies, like decision-making and nursing proficiency, through enhanced hands-on training, including simulations during the COVID-19 pandemic.