Undergraduate nursing students' experiences of distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant changes in the field of education, including not least of all the adoption of distance education, which nursing students have had limited experience with in Turkey. PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the factors affecting nursing students' success in distance education and to evaluate their experiences during this process. METHODS: The study was designed as a descriptive, cross-sectional study and involved the participation of 454 nursing who were members of the Student Nurses Association in Turkey. An evaluation form for assessing students' sociodemographic and distance education-related characteristics and the Distance Education Assessment Questionnaire for Nursing Students (DEAQNS) were used for data collection. RESULTS: The students further reported that the main factors affecting the success of distance education were provision of preliminary information, proficiency level of technological software use, economic status, proficiency level of use of technological devices, and asynchronous learning. CONCLUSIONS: In order to increase the success of distance education, students need information on the protection of personal data and use of technological software and devices in the nursing curriculum.