Purpose: As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged as a global crisis in 2020, nursing students experienced an abrupt transition from offline to online classes. An in-depth understanding of the online learning experiences of nursing students can be used to reorganize nursing education during the pandemic. Therefore, this study explored the online learning experiences of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: A descriptive qualitative design was employed. This study used purposive sampling to recruit 20 nursing students from a nursing college. Data were collected between November 2021 and March 2022 using semi-structured focus groups or one-to-one in-depth interviews. The collected data were analyzed using inductive content analysis.
Results: Five main categories emerged from the analysis: (a) ambivalence toward rapidly changing learning methods, (b) becoming familiar with online learning, (c) facing the limitations of online learning environment, (d) discovering the charm of online learning, and (e) making suggestions for future online learning.
Conclusion: Nursing students experienced disappointments and concerns about online learning classes in rapidly changing situations but also experienced an efficient aspect. Psychological support and the latest information should be provided to nursing students who may experience psychological distress during this pandemic. Additionally, learning strategies and methods should be reorganized to reflect the characteristics of nursing courses and the preferences of nursing students.