Coping with Fears of Covid-19 Pandemic Among Nursing Students During Clinical Practice: Malawi's Perspective.

PURPOSE: Fears of the Covid-19 pandemic have brought additional psychological pressure among nursing students. Nursing students at Mzuzu University in Malawi resumed clinical practice amidst the first wave of the pandemic and completed their rotation from September to December 2020. However, it was not known how they were coping with fears of the Covid-19 pandemic during clinical practice and this had set the impetus for conducting this study. METHODS: The study used qualitative approach employing a descriptive phenomenological design. Four focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted on students who had completed a clinical rotation during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Four themes emerged from the data analysis, and these were staying positive amidst the Covid-19 pandemic; applying the Covid-19 preventive measures; the role of religion and use of avoidance strategies. CONCLUSION: Students should be encouraged to use coping strategies that have been proven to promote psychological well-being in times of crisis such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

Using preceptors to improve nursing students' clinical learning outcomes: A Malawian students' perspective.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical environment remains an important aspect in the development of student's competence, confidence and fulfillment of their expected learning outcomes. Preceptors and clinical teachers play a significant role in preparing students to achieve their professional goals through continuous support and resource provision. This study explored the students' perception of using clinical preceptors to improve their clinical learning outcomes. METHODS: The researchers used semi structured interviews to collect qualitative data. A total of 48 students were purposively and conveniently sampled from 8 hospitals to participate in the study. Content analysis was used to analyse the data. FINDINGS: Two themes emerged from the study findings namely: creating a positive clinical learning environment and facilitating academic clinical collaboration. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study revealed that students gained more confidence and competence in clinical practice when supported by preceptors as well as achieved clinical learning outcomes. These findings suggest the need to train more clinical preceptors for improvement of students' clinical learning outcomes.