Coping with Fears of Covid-19 Pandemic Among Nursing Students During Clinical Practice: Malawi’s Perspective

Abstract

Masumbuko Albert Baluwa, Alice Konyani, Mep Coretta Chipeta, Getrude Munthali, Lucky Mhango, Etta Chimbe, Florence Lungu, Ferestas Mpasa Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Mzuzu University, Mzuzu, 2, MalawiCorrespondence: Masumbuko Albert BaluwaDepartment of Nursing and Midwifery, Mzuzu University, Private Bag 201, Luwinga, Mzuzu, 2, MalawiTel +265 999229714Email mbukobaluwa@yahoo.co.ukPurpose: Fears of the Covid-19 pandemic have brought additional psychological pressure among nursing students. Nursing students at Mzuzu University in Malawi resumed clinical practice amidst the first wave of the pandemic and completed their rotation from September to December 2020. However, it was not known how they were coping with fears of the Covid-19 pandemic during clinical practice and this had set the impetus for conducting this study.Methods: The study used qualitative approach employing a descriptive phenomenological design. Four focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted on students who had completed a clinical rotation during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.Results: Four themes emerged from the data analysis, and these were staying positive amidst the Covid-19 pandemic; applying the Covid-19 preventive measures; the role of religion and use of avoidance strategies.Conclusion: Students should be encouraged to use coping strategies that have been proven to promote psychological well-being in times of crisis such as the Covid-19 pandemic.Keywords: Covid 19 pandemic, coping strategies, nursing students, clinical learning