ABSTRACT
Background To adapt to COVID-19 restrictions, a virtual pediatric skills day was developed to provide nursing students with practical experience prior to entering the pediatric clinical setting. Student assessment before and after participation indicate a virtual skills day is helpful in building student confidence prior to pediatric clinicals. Methods This mixed-method study involved a cross-sectional approach with a six-item survey administered before and immediately after the virtual pediatric skills day intervention to undergraduate junior nursing students. Outcome measures included comfort and preparation for pediatrics and families of pediatric patients. Findings After exploring outcomes from 93 students complete pre and post intervention measures, we addressed comfort themes including excited, nervous, and readiness while preparedness themes highlighted concerns with parental interactions, upset children, and COVID-19 restrictions. Discussion It is beneficial for nursing students to have clinical experiences with children prior to visiting a pediatric clinical setting. Such experiences decrease student stress and anxiety and allow meaningful opportunities to occur.