Document Type : Review Article
Authors
1 Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
2 Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: The COVID‑19 pandemic and the forced transition from face‑to‑face to online education led to unprecedented changes in the education of nursing students. Online education for nursing students is associated with various advantages, disadvantages, and challenges that have been reported in different studies. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically review the advantages and disadvantages of online education for nursing students during the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Methods: In this systematic review, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched to identify published studies on the advantages and disadvantages of online education among nursing students during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Articles published in English from December 2019 to May 21, 2025 were considered. In the initial search, 835 articles were identified. After screening the titles and abstracts and applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 13 articles were finally included in the review.
Results: The advantages of online education included time saving, reduction of students’ expenses, decreased risks associated with commuting, and the possibility of repeated access to educational materials. The disadvantages included technical barriers, insufficient technological and economic infrastructure for internet access and required devices, challenges related to theoretical and clinical teaching, physical problems associated with prolonged online learning, and limited interaction between students and instructors.
Conclusion: Online education ensured continuity in nursing education during the COVID‑19 crisis; however, it also revealed inequalities in digital access and limitations in the development of clinical skills. Technical barriers, reduced interaction, and physical discomfort highlight the need for a balanced and health‑conscious design of online learning environments. To improve preparedness for future crises, nursing schools should integrate virtual simulations, hybrid learning models, multimedia educational resources, and faculty training, while establishing standardized frameworks for online clinical skill assessment. Institutional investment in these strategies is essential to ensure resilient and high‑quality nursing education systems.
Keywords
Main Subjects
)