PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PANDEMIC: ACHIEVING COMPETENCIES IN NURSING STUDENTS

Abstract

In response to the demands of the country during the pandemic, the School of Nursing at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile offered final-year students the opportunity to
advance their studies with an innovative Academic Certificate of Specialty in Nursing in Health Alert Situations. Objectives: To understand students' perceptions of their experience and the competencies they acquired during their final internship in the context of the pandemic, and to provide an objective evaluation of their knowledge. Material and Method: Mixed sequential study with an exploratory design. In the qualitative phase, perceptions were explored using a satisfaction questionnaire. In the subsequent quantitative phase,
knowledge was evaluated using a specific, standardized test. The study population consisted of 74 students who completed their internship between April and July 2020. A
total of 45 students participated in the study through non-probability sampling and informed consent. Results: Qualitative analysis revealed that the internship's primary
contributions were reducing health personnel's workload, team integration, and providing emotional support to patients. Students described the experience as unique, meaningful, and irreplaceable in terms of personal and professional growth. In the knowledge evaluation, all students performed "very well" with an average score of 6.44 (SD 0.33) on a scale of 1 to 7; most students scored over 6 in both disciplinary and transversal skills. Conclusion: This certification proved to be an effective response to the health crisis, enabling the continuity of quality training while strengthening the role of students as future resilient professionals who are committed and prepared to face disaster contexts.