Reflections of Family Nurse Practitioner Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

To understand family nurse practitioner (FNP) students' academic experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, faculty developed an online reflective discussion board assignment. The richness of the responses prompted faculty to gather data and analyze themes.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of FNP students regarding the impact of COVID-19 on their academic experience. Participants were asked to answer four open-ended questions in a discussion board to address the research question. Responses of consenting students were analyzed qualitatively using open, axial, and selective coding.

Four main themes emerged: worry and fear, cyclical stress, mitigation of stress, and personal growth of resilience and empathy. Students emphasized that faculty support strategies mitigated stress and anxiety.

Understanding students' experience is crucial to facilitating academic success. Faculty in similar situations could better support their students through clear communication, and providing flexibility and opportunities for self-reflection. [.