[Transitioning Italian nursing education in the post-pandemic period: priorities in the light of lessons learnt].

Abstract

. Transitioning Italian nursing education in the post-pandemic period: priorities in the light of lessons learnt.

Introduction: Once back to normalcy, many nursing education activities have been restored without an in-depth analysis of which transformations enacted in the pandemic period should be maintained and valued.

Aim: To identify priorities to effectively transitioning nursing education in the post-pandemic period.

Method: Descriptive qualitative design. A network of nine universities involved 37 faculty members, 28 clinical nurse educators and 65 students/new graduates. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews; the main priorities reported in each university were combined to gain a global view.

Results: Nine priorities emerged, including the need to: 1. reflect on distance learning to promote its complementary role to face-to-face teaching; 2. rethinking the rotations of clinical practical training by refocusing their aims, duration, and preferred settings; 3. understanding how to integrate the virtual and the in-presence learning spaces into the educational pathway; 4. continuing with inclusive and sustainable strategies. Considering that nursing education is essential, it is a priority to develop a pandemic education plan capable of guaranteeing its continuity in all circumstances.

Conclusions: Nine priorities have emerged all considering the importance of digitalization; the lessons learnt, however, indicate the need to enact an intermediate phase capable of guiding towards the complete transition of the education in the post-pandemic era.