Understanding and Challenges of Community Nursing Practicums After COVID-19: A Qualitative Study

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of community health services, yet little is known about how nursing students perceive and engage with public health centers during their community nursing practicums in this evolving landscape.

To explore the community nursing practicum experiences of Korean nursing students at public health center after the COVID-19 pandemic.

This qualitative study was conducted in the Republic of Korea. It employed purposive sampling and thematic analysis to examine the practicum experiences of 29 nursing students. The data were collected using daily reflective journals written by students during their practicum, with research consent obtained after all grades were finalized.

Three themes were identified: (a) Understanding and engagement with public health centers, including limited prior awareness of community health services and expanded recognition of diverse public health initiatives. (b) Practicing and overcoming challenges in community nursing involves understanding the role of community nurses in preventive care, experiencing visiting nursing services, enhancing knowledge and skills, and clarifying career options. (c) Leading health promotion projects as a nursing professional entails roles as community health assessors, specialized practitioners, and collaborating with other experts.

This study highlights how community nursing practicum experiences after the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to enhancing students' understanding of public health roles and practical skills, influencing some students' career choices. To maximize outcomes, programs should implement prepracticum preparation and strengthen site collaboration for active student engagement in assessments. Through well-designed practicum experiences, nurses might be better prepared to address future community health challenges as health assessors and collaborators within multidisciplinary teams.