Blended learning during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic: Attitudes of nurse educators in Gauteng

BACKGROUND: The use of blended learning (BL) pedagogy has become inevitable due to contemporary technological innovations in the nursing education sector. As of late, the need to use BL pedagogy has resulted by the sudden occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, several nurse educators still experience uncertainties in using BL due to technological, psychological, infrastructure and equipment readiness barriers. AIM: To report the attitudes of nurse educators towards the use of BL pedagogy as a new norm of teaching and learning in public nursing education institutions (NEIs) in the Gauteng Province (GP), South Africa, during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic period. SETTING: The study was conducted in five Gauteng public NEIs. METHODS: A descriptive non-experimental quantitative design was conducted with 144 nurse educators. Data was collected through a questionnaire. Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) was used to analyse data with the help of a biostatistician. RESULTS: Technologically, only 50% (N = 72) found BL easy to use while 48% (n = 69) were ready and willing to use the BL Psychologically, more than half, that is, 65% (n = 94) lacked the confidence to use BL pedagogy. About 55% (n = 79) reported having inadequate BL infrastructure, while 32% (n = 46) seemed to be satisfied with the availability of effective equipment to support BL pedagogy. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, it is apparent that nurse educators in Gauteng are not technologically and psychologically ready, since the infrastructure and equipment to support the BL are not adequately provided. CONTRIBUTION: The study emphasised the purpose of performing regular assessments to establish the overall readiness of nurse educators to successfully implement the BL pedagogy.