Exploring the intersection between academic and professional work expectations for undergraduate post-diploma and graduate nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Professional nurses hold registration in their respective professional bodies that allow them to carry out particular tasks according to their education. A significant portion of all nurses' education includes practical experience in the field designed to prepare them for various realities they may face. Pandemics create a real-life, real-time learning opportunity, where both nursing students and teaching faculty can expand and enhance their nursing and teaching skills. Sherry Espin, a professor in the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, hopes to make the most of the teaching reality that has presented itself in the COVID-19 crisis. There are many questions around what is asked of nurses, what they are obliged to do when caring for patients, and how they can balance their responsibilities to their governing bodies, employers, and families. "Examining this reality can be a cornerstone in looking to the future of nursing education," says Espin. "These results can inform new educational programs, how courses may be offered in the future, including virtual teaching and learning, curriculum redesign, and academic policies for this unique population of students who are also frontline practitioners during a global pandemic crisis." Espin is working with DCSN's Karen LeGrow, Don Rose, Sue Bookey-Bassett and Elaine Santa Mina. They are collaborating with community partner Taylor MacLean of the Centre for Communicating Knowledge.