Abstract:
Context and Purpose: During the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, students
in the year of undergraduate degree were hired to provide care assistance support in
hospitals. The purpose of the study is to explore their experiences of their premature
professional incorporation into patient care in a pandemic situation.
Methods: A descriptive phenomenology research study was conducted. Data were collected
in two phases: 1) Two focus groups and 2) Ten in-depth individual semi-structured interviews
between July and August 2021.
Results: Twenty-two Nursing students from a Madrid University School of Nursing partici pated. All worked in COVID hospitalization units, 6 in intensive care units. Four main
categories were identified.
Student-professional nurse transition, Learning, Hospital integration and Emotions.
Conclusion: Despite all the fears and negative emotions, the nursing students do not regret
the decision to accept a contract to work as a healthcare professional in the COVID-19
pandemic. They feel that the pandemic has allowed them to see life from another perspective
and with other priorities, strengthening their vocation to nursing.
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