黑料吃瓜网

With their education forced online and in-person clinical practice opportunities canceled by the novel coronavirus pandemic, 黑料吃瓜网 nursing students eager to use their skills and knowledge during this historic challenge to human health and well-being had few options.

Unwilling to accept this limited role for nursing students, the 黑料吃瓜网 School of Nursing has partnered with Public Health鈥揝eattle & King County to give students three opportunities to join frontline efforts to meet health needs and treat patients suffering from COVID-19, the deadly disease caused by the virus.

鈥淭he clinical student experience in a real-world setting is a critical part of every nurse鈥檚 education,鈥� said , executive dean of the 黑料吃瓜网 . 鈥淭his innovative partnership not only allows our students to use their skills, which are in high demand during this global pandemic, it also enables them to respond to a very compelling, very urgent public need in our community.鈥�

The unique partnership includes three voluntary opportunities:

• First, since April 6, graduating senior nursing students have been volunteering at . Students use their nursing education to provide scientific, evidence-based and accurate information that reflects Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and local public health guidelines.
• Second, doctoral students work in telehealth and telemedicine call centers in local health care organizations. Students are working with faculty advisors to provide virtual health visits for patients who may not be able to visit a traditional clinic due to quarantine, mobility issues or lack of transportation.
• The third clinical experience will place licensed graduate nursing students at area care centers designated for assessment and recovery for the community鈥檚 most vulnerable patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms but are not so ill that they require hospitalization.

鈥淭he next generation of nurses is strengthening our COVID-19 response right now, aiding some of our community鈥檚 most vulnerable people at a critical moment,鈥� said King County Executive Dow Constantine. 鈥淭his innovative School of Nursing program is just one more way that the 黑料吃瓜网 is a leader in responding to the pandemic, and another reason we are fortunate to have the 黑料吃瓜网 at the center of our community.鈥�

鈥淭his is an extraordinary partnership for extraordinary times,鈥� said Patty Hayes, director for Public Health鈥揝eattle & King County. 鈥淲e are deeply grateful to the School of Nursing and their students for rising to the occasion for our community鈥檚 COVID-19 needs, and so pleased to be able to contribute to their growth in this unique way.鈥�

Safety for students and faculty is a priority for both 黑料吃瓜网 School of Nursing and Public Health鈥揝eattle & King County, Emami said. Students and faculty offering direct care at treatment centers will be supplied with personal protective equipment, or PPE, and trained how to properly put it on and take it off.

While all graduating nursing students in the Class of 2020 can meet their clinical requirements through online clinical learning during spring quarter, Emami added, at least 45 students have volunteered for these unique clinical opportunities.

鈥淪erendipitously, 2020 is the International Year of Nurses and Midwives and the final year of the Nursing Now intitative, which recognize the vital role nurses play in our society,鈥� said Emami. 鈥淭his pandemic has truly shown the heroic role that nurses and other health care professionals play to save lives.鈥�

Financial support for launching these opportunities, including the purchase of PPE, was provided by the聽CDC Foundation and the de Beaumont Foundation, a public health foundation based in Bethesda, Maryland.

For more information, contact Shari Ireton, Assistant Dean of Marketing & Communication, 黑料吃瓜网 School of Nursing, at slireton@uw.edu and (206) 351-6058.

Learn more about the 鲍奥鈥檚 Population Health Initiative: a 25-year, interdisciplinary effort to bring understanding and solutions to the biggest challenges facing communities.