Opportunities and Obstacles: The Impact of COVID-19 on Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists

In March of 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The pandemic had unprecedented impacts on nurse anesthesia education delivery. The aim of this mixed methods study was to describe and quantify the personal and educational impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs). Three themes emerged from the qualitative arm of the study: 1) COVID-19 caused feelings of isolation, anxiety, and stress; 2) COVID-19 was a financial silver lining; and 3) COVID-19 changed nurse anesthesia education delivery and learning for SRNAs. The quantitative arm of the study revealed that SRNAs experienced anxiety, social isolation, and a sense of being overwhelmed. Almost half of the participants received federal stimulus money. Most participants reported an increase in distance education delivery and virtual simulation. This study summarizes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SRNAs and how nurse anesthesia education was altered.