Rapid Review on Exploring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nursing Students Teaching and Learning Readiness for Future Pandemic

Global healthcare services faced unprecedented challenges in patient care and resource management in responding to COVID-19. Nursing students, forced to adapt to healthcare needs, underwent a transformative journey, marking a significant evolution in their education and profession. This study aims to identify and synthesize available evidence on nursing students’ challenges, and perceptions of COVID-19 and to determine readiness for future pandemics. From June 2021 to September 2023, a rapid literature review explored Google Scholar, Science Direct, and PubMed, identifying publications between 2019 and 2023 using the search terms “COVID-19, “Nursing students”, “Teaching”, “Readiness” and “Future”. The findings on challenges and perceptions were categorized based on the ecological model of Bronfenbrenner and nursing students’ learning and teaching readiness for future pandemics were analyzed. Thirty-nine articles were eligible from 6890 studies. When arranging evidence into levels, the intrapersonal level includes knowledge, health distress, experiences, skills, and attitudes. Family burden and teamwork are classified at the interpersonal level, and the institutional level includes classroom and clinical learning. Social relationships and policy developments are classified at community and public policy levels. Readiness for future pandemics will safeguard the integrity and safety of patients and equip nursing graduates with the essential competencies required for healthcare challenges. Nursing students are expected to be confident and responsible in implementing decisions in future pandemics. Nursing administration and faculties are recommended to prioritize educational excellence, innovation, and adaptability for future pandemic readiness. Incorporating crisis plans, transparent communication, and coping strategies into the nursing curriculum supports students’ academic and emotional adjustment.