“Finding My Own Way”: The lived experience of undergraduate nursing students learning psychomotor skills during COVID-19

BACKGROUND: Little is known about how nursing students learned psychomotor skills during the COVID-19 pandemic. AIMS: What is the lived experience of undergraduate nursing students learning psychomotor skills during the COVID-19 pandemic? METHODS: Using a phenomenological approach, eight undergraduate nursing students were interviewed about their experiences learning psychomotor skills during the pandemic. RESULTS: Thematic analysis revealed three main themes. “Finding My Own Way” described adapting learning styles and advocacy for learning. Sub-themes included perseverance and comradery. “Learning the Skills” described modifications to skills learning. Sub-themes included grace by professors, smaller group sizes, less practice, and “my brain is split in half,” describing the challenges of giving dual attention to COVID-19 and skills learning. “Stress of the Pandemic” described the stress of quarantine, isolation and online learning. DISCUSSION: Findings of this study may help nurse educators understand the challenges of learning skills during the pandemic. Implications are discussed.