2021 Annual Conference

Role of CNS in COVID-19 Pandemic

This presentation will describe the education and competency developed during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as discuss the challenges encountered in the clinical setting. The COVID- 19 pandemic strained the healthcare system as well as challenged the resources available to care for patients. During this time of uncertainty, hospitals were tasked to ensure that they had enough nurses to care for critically-ill COVID-19 patients.  The Academic Medical Center initiated a labor pool of nurses from various ancillary areas (i.e. Endoscopy, Cath Lab, Special Procedures, and other areas to name a few). Education and training was essential for frontline nurses to ensure safe practice and protection of patient and nurse. The Nursing Education team put together a comprehensive educational plan to ensure that nurses were trained, oriented and supported while caring for presumptive and confirmed COVID-19 patients.  The Nursing Education team created following curriculums:

• Modified Critical Care Class (4 Hours) - for critical care nurses working outside of the ICU to work in the ICU.
• Critical Care Partner Class ( 2 hours) - for medical surgical nurses to support critical care nurses
• Oncology Intermediate Care Cass (4 hours) - for oncology nurses caring for oncology patients that needed higher level of care.
• Back In the Saddle Class -a comprehensive review of all COVID-19 pandemic practice changes for staff coming back to clinical practice.

In addition to the multiple courses, curriculums and resources, the education team was key in supporting staff clinically and emotionally in the time of pandemic. Review of staff feedback from educational programs 2 months post COVID-19 peak.