The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the perioperative transition to specialty practice program

AIM: To understand how the COVID‐19 pandemic impacted nurse educators' and novice nurses' experience with the perioperative transition to specialty practice program. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study. METHODS: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with five perioperative nurse educators and five perioperative transition to specialty practice program participants from a major metropolitan health service in Melbourne. Data were collected between April and July 2021. Interviews were audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim, and data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Five themes were identified. The value of the perioperative transition to specialty practice program in supporting novice nurses was recognized in the theme ‘Nurturing our novices’. Widespread changes to clinical practice were demonstrated in the theme ‘Every day is different’, including changes to elective surgery, redeployment of staff and the transmission risk of COVID‐19. ‘The perils and joys of online learning’ revealed both challenges and benefits of transitioning theoretical education from face‐to‐face to online delivery. ‘Roller coaster of emotions’ represented the heightened emotions participants experienced due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. ‘Looking back to move forward’ encompassed participants' reflections on the year, considering the challenges, adaptive strategies and the future of perioperative nursing education. CONCLUSION: The perioperative transition to specialty practice program was significantly impacted by the COVID‐19 pandemic. Participants needed to adapt to rapid and frequent changes, which contributed to feelings of emotional distress, affected consolidation of clinical learning and reduced engagement with theoretical education. IMPACT: Perioperative nurses should acknowledge that opportunities for learning were decreased for transition to specialty practice program participants during the pandemic. Ongoing support and education should be provided, to nurture the future generation of perioperative nurses.