For nursing students, practical training in healthcare during a pandemic can be considered a critical environment. This study aimed to describe how the Covid-19 pandemic affected registered nursing students’ clinical learning and what learning strategies they would use in a clinical environment. The study had a qualitative, exploring approach. Data were generated using twelve semi-structured interviews with final-year nurse students and were analysed by thematic analysis.

The Covid-19 pandemic can be seen as a critical environment that has unintended consequences on learning. The analysis revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic affected nursing students in both their adaptive and developmental learning as they in practicum had to handle personal responsibility for their work, reflection, and learning. In the chaotic situation, students and supervisors became like novices, struggling to go with the flow while shouldering responsibility for their own learning. The students’ learning extended to tasks outside the course syllabus. They acquired extensive knowledge about working during a pandemic, including basic hygiene routines and working at a safe distance. The students developed new knowledge due to the increased demand for flexibility and creativity. They had more contact with patients as well as their relatives and developed an ethical approach related to the pandemic.