The Operational Status and Suggestion of Fundamentals of Nursing Practice in the Early Stage of COVID-19

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand the actual status of fundamentals of nursing practice (FNP) education at nursing colleges, and the difficulties of FNP operation in the early stages of the COVID-19.Methods: This study used a descriptive design. Data collection was conducted from December 9, 2020 to January 31, 2021 using the self-report questionnaire method for a total of 95 nursing colleges. The questionnaire consisted of characteristics related to FNP, changes in FNP education, difficulties in operating FNP, and countermeasures in the COVID-19 situation.Results: Changes in FNP due to COVID-19 were distribution of practice places, reduction of the number of students, short-term intensive classes, and reduction of face-to-face practice. Most colleges conducted FNP face-to-face, but some schools showed that FNP was conducted non-face-to-face. The difficulties of operating FNP that instructors experienced induced concerns about a decrease in student competency due to lack of face-to-face practice and an unofficial increase in the number of teaching hours and physical demands on instructors due to the expansion of the division.Conclusion: In order to develop the capabilities of nursing students in other pandemic situations in the future, it is necessary to find systematic coping strategy to reduce the burden of FNP instructors, and to develop non-face-to-face online practice contents and consumables for online practice.