Flexibility, self-care support during pandemic helpful to students

Nurse faculty and administrators can assist RN-to-BSN students during periods marked by heavy workloads and greater stress by identifying their needs, being flexible and offering self-care support, an article concludes. Published in Nursing Outlook, the qualitative study examined the experiences of 58 students enrolled in RN-to-BSN programs. Students reported feeling increased levels of stress during the pandemic due to intensifying pressure at work combined with their school demands, resulting in some students performing poorly in their coursework and others decreasing their course load or suspending their education. Other students adapted and modified their mental outlook or work and school schedules to manage stress. Schools and their academic partners should collaborate to ensure students are prepared to practice and to foster their professional development after graduation. (Nursing Outlook article, 6/30/23)