Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively
affected the learning strategies of nursing faculties, causing the temporary lockdown of
universities and sudden shift of traditional learning to online learning without prior
preparation. As lockdown continues, preparation of educational process for online learning
takes place. Aim: We aimed to compare nursing students' perception toward online learning
during the COVID-19 pandemic at urgent and planned situations. Research design: A
descriptive study was conducted. Setting: Data were collected at the Faculty of Nursing of
Kafrelsheikh University in Egypt. Study subjects: By stratified randomization, we recruited
1004 students who already shifted to online learning during the pandemic and divided them
into the urgent and planned situation groups (502 per group). Tools: Two tools were utilized:
students' technical-related data and students' perception toward online learning, benefits, and
possible challenges. Results: A statistically significant difference in nursing students'
perception toward online learning (χ2 = 356.215*, p < 0.001*) between the periods of urgent
and planned situations, approximately one-quarter (20.7%) of the urgent group compared
with the majority (80.3%) in the planned group had a positive overall perception.
Conclusion: Nursing students' perception during the period of planned online learning was
better than that during the period of urgent online learning. Recommendations:
We
recommend introducing the latest innovations of online learning for both theoretical
and
practical lectures, including 3D virtual learning environment for practical lectures.