During such an unprecedented time of the largest public health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing students are of the utmost concern regarding their psychological and physical well-being. It is important to identify and establish influences and associations within multilevel factors, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological distress among nursing students. The research in this study utilized a mixed-methods, convergent study design. The study population included a convenience sample of undergraduate nursing students from Southeastern U.S. with 202 students completing the quantitative survey and 11 students participating in the qualitative follow-up interview surveys. Statistical tests were performed and identified the effects of independent variables on psychological distress. Coding and qualitative content analysis were performed and identified overarching themes within participants' interviews. The findings are significant, specifically regarding contributing factors of nursing students' psychological distress, which will help to improve learning in the academic environment. [For the full proceedings, see ED631133.]