Exploring the Evolution of Nursing Procedurals Skills, Mastery, and Competence Through Online Learning Among Students: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Online learning has changed the educational environment and may influence the development of nursing skills, mastery, and competence in students. Objective: The study aimed to investigate how nursing students acquire procedural skills, achieve mastery, and build competence through online learning, considering the growing use of technology in healthcare education. Methods: This study utilized a qualitative descriptive research approach to investigate the experiences of 32 nursing students from the Nursing Department who had undergone online procedural learning. Semistructured interviews were conducted to collect in-depth insights. Purposive sampling was used to gather data with a profound understanding of the phenomenon. The data analysis encompassed a methodical content analysis coding procedure. Independent researchers reviewed the results to validate the findings. Results: Content analysis of the data identified three key themes: achieving nursing procedural knowledge through online learning, achieving nursing procedural skills with the power of online learning, and gaining procedural competence through online social and collaborative learning. Conclusions: Online learning played a significant role in shaping and enhancing nursing procedural knowledge, skills, and competence, emphasizing the importance of integrating technology training modules and staying updated with emerging technologies.