Abstract
Background
Lockdowns during the COVID‐19 pandemic compelled universities to implement online teaching and learning methods to comply with social distancing measures. The University of Botswana transitioned from classroom face‐to‐face teaching to remote learning in response to the pandemic. This study aimed to explore the experiences of nursing students at the University of Botswana with online teaching and learning during the COVID‐19 outbreak. The results of the study have the potential to inform policies on how nursing education could respond to future pandemics and ensure continuity of learning.
Design
The study utilised an explorative descriptive qualitative design to explore the students’ experiences using online teaching and learning activities during the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Methods
Sixteen (16) students consented to participate in the study. Data were collected from September to November 2023 using a semistructured interview guide and analysed using content analysis. Trustworthiness was accomplished through credibility, dependability, confirmability and transferability. Further, the study used COREQ to ensure quality.
Results
Five main themes and 14 subthemes were identified. The main themes are opportunities for online teaching and learning, students’ performances during the COVID‐19 pandemic, challenges of online teaching and learning, the need to improve online teaching and learning, and nursing as a profession and online learning.
Conclusion
The study offered insights into how the COVID‐19 pandemic affected nursing students’ teaching and learning. Further research is recommended to guide nursing education and online learning policy.