OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the experiences of nursing students who received face-to-face education during the COVID-19 pandemic and contracted COVID-19.
METHOD: A phenomenological qualitative study was used to understand the students' experiences, and the study was completed with 11 students who volunteered. Semi-structured online interviews were conducted using an interview guide, and the interviews were recorded. Thematic analysis was employed to generate themes. MAXQDA 2022 software was used for the analysis of the research.
RESULTS: As a result of the research, 3 themes; themes are as follows: "COVID-19 disease process" with the sub-themes "emotions" and "gains"; "Educational process" with the sub-themes "technological problems", financial constraints", and "legal issues"; "nursing profession and values" with the sub-themes "importance of nursing", "intense and challenging working environment".
CONCLUSION: According to the experiences of students who contracted Covid-19 disease during face-to-face education during the Covid-19 epidemic, it was concluded that nursing students should be provided with the necessary technological support, the legal regulations of universities should be revised, and psychosocial support should be provided to students.
