LAUSR

BACKGROUND Currently, graduating nurses face pandemic-related uncertainty including gaps in risk perception, unexpected Covid-19 moral dilemmas, and distress surrounding personal health risk. RESEARCH QUESTION/AIM/OBJECTIVES/METHOD The purpose of this basic qualitative descriptive study is to describe the willingness of graduating nurses to provide care during the Covid-19 pandemic. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT One week prior to graduation, students were required to submit a written assignment describing willingness to practice in light of the ongoing pandemic. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS This study was approved by an Institutional Review Board. FINDINGS/RESULTS Eighty-four (n = 84) assignments were used for analysis. Of these, 82% (n = 69) of the graduating nurses describe a willingness to voluntarily care for Covid-19 patients. After summarizing narrative responses, two themes emerged including self-assessment of personal and familial risk and conflicting obligations. DISCUSSION The assessment of risk to self and family are key in determining whether graduating nurses will care for Covid-19 patients. Conflicting obligations may contribute to stress and uncertainty potentially leading to early burnout. CONCLUSION Findings from this study can inform academicians of the need to adequality prepare graduating nurses for Covid-19-associated risks and ethical decision making. Organizations should alter residencies and orientation to support the needs of new nurses.