Overcoming Digital Divide: Lessons from Nursing Students with Low to Absent Connectivity and Capability

Abstract

How to learn both theory and skills in nursing remains to be a compelling issue of nursing institutes as the world is still in the midst of an alarming public health concern, the COVID-19. While schools of nursing migrated to online teaching and learning and created various online flexible teaching and learning modalities and options, the effective transfer of knowledge and skills is muddled because of the expanding digital divide especially among nursing students with low to absent connectivity and capability. This qualitative-descriptive study found eight emerging themes (i.e., Create and innovate, Save and curate, Establish learning space, Develop mental strength and resilience, Intrapersonal care and reflective practice, Seek help, support, and negotiate, Plan ahead, and Self-discipline) that encapsulate the strategies used by nursing students in coping with their learning heavily afflicted by the phenomenon, digital divide. Collectively, the themes are considered future skills vital to succeed in online learning and soon, in the rapidly evolving world of work after graduation. It is recommended that institutes of nursing shall devise more effective flexible learning options that bridge learning gaps and facilitate the course of actions to help nursing students achieve quality learning outcomes in both theory and practice despite the digital divide.