Health professional graduate perspectives of practice education during the COVID-19 pandemic: From uncertainty to employability

Introduction: COVID-19 created a need to rapidly adapt practice education placements to minimise the impact on students’ progression to graduation. Physiotherapy and occupational therapy students at one university completed their final practice education placement between April and May 2020, during the period when health care was urgently adapting to the developing pandemic.

Aim: This study explored the impact of this final placement on new graduates, following their employment.

Method: 10 students took part in 3 online focus groups to share their experiences and perceptions of the impact on their preparedness for professional practice

Results: Four themes emerged from the analysis of transcripts including: 1. Coping with uncertainty, 2. Rising to the challenge, 3. Developing skills and competence and 4. Readiness for employment in the “new world” of practice. Overall, the study demonstrates the resilience of students in response to these unusual circumstances. Strategies including peer support, demonstration of learning, and client-centredness increased confidence and the development of professional identity.

Conclusion: Graduates identified both positive and negative experiences of placement during COVID-19, but overall felt proud that they had demonstrated resilience and developed skills relevant to their current employment as professionals.