Political power and awareness of nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic from the views of senior nursing students

Abstract

Studying the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the current nursing workforce and the training of future nurses are important. This study aimed to assess the views of senior nursing students pursuing health policy courses on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the political power and awareness of nursing profession. Document analysis method, one of the qualitative enhancement patterns, was employed in this study. This study was conducted in a nursing school with a sample comprising 34 nursing students. The data were collected from online homework documents and evaluated with thematic analysis. Students on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nursing profession were categorized into three main themes and nine subthemes. Students reported that although the visibility of nursing increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, the problems of this profession did not change. The results showed that depoliticization was an important obstacle in the fight against these problems and students stated that the struggle could be realized together with a unified and strong political voice. Students suggested being organized in the struggle against problems, addressing unions and associations, and political awareness and political participation as a remedy.