Challenges in Clinical Training for Nursing Students during COVID-19: Examining Its Effects on Nurses' Job Satisfaction

Introduction. Nursing education involves a robust blend of theory and hands-on practice, crucial for cultivating the intricate abilities required to safely progress from being a student to becoming a proficient nursing professional. This training process was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic when the imposition of lockdowns compelled the transition of classes from in-person to online formats. Aim. This study aimed to assess the challenges in clinical training for nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically examining how reductions in hands-on clinical practice have impacted their job satisfaction upon entering the workforce. Methods. It was an exploratory, descriptive, and cross-sectional study, using the Font Roja Questionnaire on job satisfaction as an instrument for data collection. The population was made up of Spanish nurses who graduated in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Results. The sample consisted of 390 nurses, 81.5% female, averaging 24.35 years old, with 76% having missed at least one month of clinical practice during their training. We found significant levels of dissatisfaction with job pressure and professional competence (52.3% and 40.8%, respectively). Statistically significant differences were found between gender, job pressure, year of graduation, and professional competence. Conclusion. The loss of clinical practice periods, a vital element in nursing education, has influenced the early careers of these nurses, particularly affecting certain aspects of their job satisfaction such as job pressure and professional competence.