The healthcare world, and the students aspiring to join its ranks, are now reacclimating to an industry still recovering from, and in some ways forever changed by, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, which is commonly referred to as the COVID-19 pandemic. 

We at 国产主播 thought the dental hygiene profession deserved an even closer look, since this is a part of healthcare that was particularly affected by shutdowns. Let鈥檚 start with how the pandemic has affected the dental industry, and then take a look at how adaptation and innovation have been instrumental in restoring and even improving dental practice.

While many sects of healthcare during the pandemic were overstretched, such as respiratory wards in hospitals, patients largely stayed away from the dentist鈥檚 office. Why? Many patients may see dental care as less 鈥渦rgent鈥� than an immediate medical need, and there will likely be a long-tail effect on overall dental health and hygiene that will take years to study and understand. In the meantime, patients have begun returning to the dental chair, and to a new set of protocols and considerations that have developed over the last few years in response to COVID-19.

In this post, we鈥檒l take a look at some of the ways the industry is adapting. Even the term 鈥減ost-pandemic鈥� is still being used with caution, if at all, and some of mandates that took root during the most uncertain times of COVID-19 are now primed to become standard practice.

Let鈥檚 sort through some of these changes and how schools and practices are adopting training and treatment in dental hygiene. We鈥檒l also offer some insight into WCU鈥檚 post-pandemic protocols, and how we鈥檙e protecting our own dental hygiene students from COVID-19鈥檚 ongoing infections and an unpredictable future in the 鈥減ost-COVID鈥� healthcare ecosystem.

An Industry Impacted

It鈥檚 no surprise the dental healthcare industry was heavily impacted during the pandemic. We鈥檒l get to the unique challenges, but first, let’s look at a few of the numbers that have emerged through surveys and research about just how heavily the impact was felt in dental care.

During lockdown, when dental offices were largely closed, of typical levels, and employment levels in dental care were down by more than half between March and May of 2020. Some of this unprecedented loss in activity in the industry, on both sides, was due to factors that impacted the economy at large鈥攆ear of infection, behavioral mandates, shortages of PPE, as well as lifestyle considerations like school closures that made keeping up with normal life habits more challenging.

On top of these factors, dental healthcare faced a unique set of challenges particular to the nature of oral health treatments.

Dental Care During the Pandemic

Because dental hygiene is an occupation dominated by a female workforce, factors like reduced access to childcare and school closures had an outsized impact on employment levels during the pandemic. But in addition to the demographic makeup of dental hygiene professionals, the unique nature of oral healthcare created challenges not felt, or at least not felt as acutely, by other sects of healthcare.

Dental care was assessed as a particularly high-risk occupation during the pandemic, earning a . This can be largely attributed to the proximity required to treat dental patients, leading to to airborne contagion with most interactions requiring the patient to be unmasked. In addition, dental hygiene care routinely involves the presence of aspirated fluids鈥攁erosols and droplets鈥攖hat are byproducts of procedures involving dental cleanings and assessments. Along with inhalation hazards, dental healthcare professionals are often in direct contact with fluids and membranes that carry pathogens like COVID-19. 

For these reasons, the dental industry was uniquely positioned to feel the effects of pandemic lockdown.

Post-Pandemic Trends: PPE and Emerging Protocols

While dental healthcare continues to recover and adapt to the post-COVID-19 attitudes and expectations, certain protocols that emerged during the height of the pandemic have become somewhat normalized, with enhanced safety moving forward for both patient and practitioner. While private practices are still largely self-determining as to which new safety measures and equipment they鈥檒l implement long-term, more rigorous use of personal protective equipment (PPE), patient screening, and adoption of technologies to mitigate infection risk are increasingly common.

Dental office equipment is also being . High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are now present in many offices to purify air quality and accelerate the removal of aerosols and droplets. Internal and external suction equipment helps control for salivary contamination, and many dental offices are improving overall ventilation, in some cases with ventilation between each patient. 

Another important area of expansion in the post-pandemic era is teledentistry. The pandemic has seen expansion of both telehealth and digital communication as indispensable tools of care. Unlike many other forms of healthcare, most procedures administered by dental hygienists can鈥檛 be performed remotely, so teledentistry applications can鈥檛 be applied wholesale. Cleanings, diagnostics, and assessment typically require a hands-on approach. But teledentistry is an option for certain oral healthcare needs, many of which apply to the work of a hygienist. 

Among these are consultations around nutrition for patients at risk for gum disease, and patient monitoring after a diagnosis or procedure. Since dental hygienists are so critical to preventative care and patient education, these techniques are highly relevant to students and graduates of dental hygiene programs. 

Moving Forward: Industry Benefits & Opportunities

In spite of all the challenges faced (and largely met) by the dental industry during the pandemic, there are signs that it is emerging more resilient and better prepared for future health crises and ongoing COVID-19 concerns and variants. 

In addition to improvements in technology adoption and safety protocols we鈥檝e already explored, , with interfaces as well as back-end concerns like reimbursement becoming easier to navigate. In a complementary development for the dental industry where telehealth applications are more limited, there is a positive outlook in patients opting for more in-person care as perceptions around safety improve. 

Another challenge that also presents a potential bright side for graduating dental hygienists is employment outlook. Many older hygienists opted to retire early during the pandemic, and while this has led to staffing shortages that are a short-term pain point for dental offices, it is also creating additional opportunities and employment choice for a new generation of dental hygiene professionals. In fact, according to Rachel Morrissey, who is a senior research analyst for the American Dental Association (ADA), .

How WCU Has Improved Its Dental Hygiene Program

At WCU, safety and study go hand-in-hand. At 国产主播, we operate our own no-cost dental hygiene clinic out of our Orange County campus, where we have implemented permanent changes to reflect leadership in student and patient safety protocols. We consulted our Dean of Dental Hygiene, Michelle Hurlbutt, about how our Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program has responded to the pandemic and improved practices for a post-pandemic dental hygiene education. Here are some highlights:

Our dedicated Orange County dental hygiene clinic has adopted a policy of mandatory N95-grade masks for all BSDH students while working in the clinic. Our BSDH Students must be individually fit-tested for their mask size. Additionally, our clinic is outfitted with safety equipment like external suction and air purifiers with HEPA filters, to minimize aerosol and droplet exposure, and all patients and students are screened for symptoms prior to treatments.

In addition to safety protocols, we have integrated teaching techniques into our curriculum such as teledentistry and learning about 鈥渓ong COVID鈥� and immunocompromised patients, especially when it comes to emergency care. At the Orange County campus, our BSDH students are visiting our local nursing facilities to participate in simulations with WCU nursing students, to incorporate important synergy in learning for changing times.

Staying Ahead in an Ever-Changing Dental Care Landscape

For now, the dental health industry is continuing to rebound toward its pre-pandemic capacity, and evolve beyond it. As additional variants emerge, waves of infection fluctuate, and we anticipate new concerns developing in the future, dental hygiene will continue to adapt to protect hygienists and their patients, and ensure a high quality of care without compromising safety.

At WCU, we look forward to staying at the forefront of new technologies and teaching techniques to address the complicated past, present, and future of dental hygiene and oral healthcare. 

The post How the Pandemic Has Changed the Dental Care Industry & Dental Hygiene Education appeared first on 国产主播.

This articles originally published in the May/June 2022 issue of Inspire Health.

As the world shut down and billions sheltered in place following the pandemic, 国产主播 (WCU) never stopped. The faculty and staff worked hard to continue providing a quality educational experience for our future frontline workers.

“As a university, we went remote in 24 hours,” stated Dr. Claudette Spalding, Campus Dean of Nursing. “The faculty and staff were dedicated, motivated, and quickly went remote without skipping a beat.”

The remote transition understandably posed some obstacles, yet the faculty and staff found creative and interactive ways to ensure students still received a quality education. WCU sent students the necessary materials and equipment to understand every aspect of the course. This proactive and hands-on approach promoted engagement, reinforced the lessons, and allowed students to master the skills. 鈥淪kills and simulation are as crucial as didactic,鈥� said Dr. Spalding.

Dr. Spalding also shared that 鈥淭he university did a great job supplying everything needed [for students] to be comfortable with the skills taught.鈥� Resources and support were available to ensure the students, faculty, and staff were successful.

Nursing alumna Georgia Bowman expressed that she felt supported through her entire educational journey at WCU. Her positive experience validated the school鈥檚 mission to provide students with the necessary tools during this difficult time. University faculty and staff were always available and willing to help and personalized the learning experience to meet students鈥� individual needs.

Shifting the Strategy for Clinical Learning

The ongoing pandemic also reinforced the need for healthcare workers. As a result, WCU and local healthcare systems, including Jackson Health System (JHS), entered into a cooperative agreement in which students had the opportunity to gain clinical experience and continue with their education.

“Education is key when faced with the unknown,” states Dr. Susana Flores Villamil, Senior Director of Clinical Learning and Development for JHS. “We need to learn from the past to grow in the future,” she said.

It was time to accept the new normal and use the experience to build new programs to assist students and employees. University and community leaders, including Dr. Flores Villamil, developed hybrid programs to benefit current and incoming healthcare professionals. She saw the situation from multiple perspectives. Formerly a WCU professor and healthcare professional, she is currently the Senior Director of Clinical Learning and Development for Jackson Health Systems. Her leadership and dedication were vital to the overall success of the clinical learning program.

From simulation labs to one-on-one virtual learning experiences, safe clinical experiences, and the constant communication and support from [students鈥橾 mentors and future employers, the staff and faculty at WCU worked tirelessly to maintain the education standards expected of its students.

As healthcare techniques and technology make impressive strides, WCU is committed to helping prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals and leaders. While healthcare has become more complex, starting an education at WCU provides the opportunity to receive hands-on training from industry leaders and offers students the tools to navigate the evolving landscape.

Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, the University has moved some of the on-ground courses into a distance education modality. However, as soon as the COVID-19 circumstances change, students will be expected to return on campus to complete their program onsite in the regular learning modality as approved by WSCUC and outlined in the university catalog.

The post Lessons Learned from a Pandemic: WCU鈥檚 Nursing Program Adjustments During COVID-19 appeared first on 国产主播.

For the health and safety of our students and associates, we continue to monitor the COVID-19 infections rates daily. Our desire is to provide you with the safest learning and working environment possible. As you may have seen during registration for Fall I, we had hoped to return to campus at 100% capacity, however, with the rapidly increasing number of Delta variant cases, we have made the difficult decision to maintain 50% capacity for the Fall I Term.

This may impact some of your courses that were planned for on-campus instruction. Some of your scheduled classes will transition back to an online learning modality, so please check your student portal for schedule changes next week. We will also be contacting all impacted students directly, informing them they will now be assigned to an online course, and assisting them with updating their schedules as needed.

As a reminder, masks will continue to be worn by all students, associates, and faculty on campus regardless of vaccination status. We will continue to keep you updated on our plans for the Fall II term. If you have any questions, please contact your Student Affairs Advisor, and check the Student App or Portal for more information.

Update 1/15/2021

Dear CA BSN Student,

At a time when healthcare professionals are more critically needed than ever, the career you have chosen clearly impacts lives. It is our mission and priority to ensure that your health and safety is first and foremost, especially during this crisis. We continue to advocate on your behalf and are excited to share some great news.

The California Board of Registered Nursing and the California Department of Public Health have agreed that nursing students are part of Phase 1a and are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Those working in acute care or nursing facilities should be prioritized to Tier 1. During your clinical experience, WCU students may be directly treating patients that have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

To obtain the COVID-19 vaccine, choose the most appropriate option below:

• Local Health Departments:
  • You may contact your  and inform them that you are a nursing student at 国产主播 and thus you should be eligible to receive the vaccination. 
  • Each student will need to provide a letter from the program (attached) and/or show your school ID.
  • Complete and print the 鈥淐ommunity Site-Student Vaccination Support Letter.鈥�
  • Please save proof of your vaccination for future uploading into the Complio system.

If you are a student currently in a Clinical Site rotation

• • Complete the 鈥淐linical Rotation Site-Student Vaccination Support Letter.鈥�
  • Print and provide this document to your faculty member at your next scheduled clinical.
  • The faculty member (not the student) will coordinate your vaccination efforts with the clinical partner.
    • NOTE: Students are NOT to contact the clinical site requesting vaccinations – this must be coordinated through your clinical faculty member.
    • NOTE: Due to the supply and demand of the vaccine, not all clinical partners will be able to provide student vaccinations.
  • If you are unable to obtain a vaccination through the clinical partner, please refer to the first option and contact your local health department.
  • Please save proof of your vaccination for future uploading into the Complio system.

Sincerely,
The Campus Nursing Leadership Team

Updates – 5/11/2020

Dear 国产主播 Student,

We continue to be amazed at the flexibility and tenacity of our students and your ability to adjust to our current environment, all while pushing forward to be the healthcare providers of the future.

The re-opening of our campus is a high priority, surpassed only by the desire to keep our entire campus community safe. Each day, we monitor city ordinances and public health information as we plan for what our future as a University and community will hold. With these factors in mind, we are working to proactively create a plan to return to campus, but only when local ordinances and public health officials deem opening our campus advisable.

Please know that currently, the public health climate and related ordinances continue to remain fluid, changing almost weekly, and that presently no actual date has been identified when we can safely resume campus operations.

While no specific date to return to campus has been determined, one thing is clear: the future of on-campus instruction will not look like it has in the past. Given the need to continue to engage in social distancing and wear appropriate and approved personal protective equipment, we don鈥檛 anticipate a return to what we considered normal just a few months ago. In the meantime, we are preparing the campus to support a smaller capacity for classroom and student space to ensure we meet these new social norms. In addition, we are planning for increased frequency of deep cleaning processes, and facility structural changes such as advanced air purification systems.

At WCU, our approach and culture are student centric. Our goal is to continue to focus on providing the best possible education so you can continue to progress academically during this unprecedented time, while giving you options to meet your personal preferences.

Please continue to persevere through these circumstances and know that we are working constantly to help you achieve the best possible academic outcomes as quickly and as safely as possible.

Stay healthy and safe,

WCU Administration

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Nursing students from 国产主播-Los Angeles finally got a chance to get back in the field this February by administering COVID-19 vaccines at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital.

Led by WCU-Los Angeles nursing instructor Masha Crawford, the group said they were grateful to be taking part in the immunization effort, while also gaining valuable experience.听

鈥淏ecause of COVID-19, students have not been able to be in clinics and not practice as many of their physical skills,鈥� Crawford said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to be in the hospital and to educate them about this disease and have them interact with the patients.鈥�

MLK-LA Pharmacy Director Gilbert Chan said he was grateful to have the students鈥� help during the all-day event, which was open to seniors in the community, plus patients and employee family members of the hospital.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity for the students to learn and participate in a community event during a pandemic,鈥� Chan said.听

Crawford, who also works full-time as an intensive care nurse in Santa Monica, said after seeing the impact听COVID-19 had not only听on听the community but also on individual families, she took a lot of satisfaction in being able to educate while at the same time helping protect the public.

鈥淭his is definitely a great joy to me, and relief,鈥� Crawford said, 鈥渂ecause our ICU is still overloaded with COVID patients, some of whom are unfortunately dying 鈥� not all of them are recovering and coming home to their families.鈥�

During the clinic, the five students worked with hospital staff to organize patients and administered about 100 vaccinations in total. Between patients, the students said听they missed being among their classmates and couldn鈥檛 wait to be back in campus.

鈥淚 miss going back to the campus and seeing all the staff and students working together,鈥� WCU-LA student Dominic Agsalud said.

The significance of contributing to the effort to end the pandemic 鈥� while still a student 鈥� was also not lost on the aspiring听healthcare workers.

鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing to be a part of such a historic moment and be able to vaccinate people who are vulnerable and help protect the community,鈥� WCU-LA student Kelsey Webb said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to be able to tell my kids in the future that I was part of something so historic, that they will be learning about in their history books.鈥�

The post WCU-Los Angeles BSN Students Visit MLK Community Hospital for COVID-19 Immunization Clinic appeared first on 国产主播.

国产主播 pharmacy students recently welcomed the chance to help end the pandemic by distributing听COVID-19 vaccinations to healthcare workers in Los Angeles听this January.

Working with local firefighters, health clinic staff and pharmacy students from other schools, the WCU group gave more than 700 of the 1,300 immunizations dispensed at the event, which was part of a statewide effort to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine.

Led by PharmD professor Justin Tenney, the WCU students handled a variety of duties at the Lincoln Park Recreation Center during the weekend clinic, including organizing and educating patients, preparing the vaccine and administering doses.

鈥淎 lot of them do vaccinations at work all the time, so it鈥檚 not a unique experience 鈥榞iving the jab,鈥� but it is really rewarding for them to give back to the community,鈥� Tenney said. 鈥淭hey get to say I was part of the COVID-19 relief response and helped out during the emergency. It makes them proud of what they do and to be a part of 国产主播.鈥�

WCU PharmD student Sarkis Jambazian said he and his classmates were 鈥渁bsolutely thrilled鈥� to be volunteering at the recreation center in Lincoln Heights, alongside fellow pharmacy students from the University of Southern California and Chapman University.

鈥淭his will be a very memorable day for me today 鈥� and for everyone here,鈥� Jambazian said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing to be a part of history, to be honest, and I can鈥檛 wait to continue to help vaccinate the community and do my part.鈥�

Each student administered approximately 125 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare workers during their eight-hour shift.

“If feels great to be part of a historic moment. I鈥檓 on the front lines and I feel blessed to have this opportunity,” WCU PharmD student Karisma Smith said. “All of the patients are excited to receive the vaccine but the best part is seeing people’s reaction to learning it wasn鈥檛 that bad.”

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You never know where you鈥檙e going to run into a 国产主播 graduate.

While administering COVID-19 vaccines for Baptist Healthcare system this December, WCU-Miami instructor Vanessa Lluy looked up to see a familiar face 鈥� her former pediatrics student听Marisabelle Gonzalez-Nieves.

Now an intensive care unit nurse also with Baptist Healthcare, Gonzalez-Nieves said the encounter was totally by chance. She had been waiting for her scheduled appointment but her line ran out of the vaccine, so she headed to next available station and rolled up her sleeve.

鈥淚 just sat down and when the nurse went to give it to me, she said, 鈥極h my gosh, it鈥檚 you!鈥�” Gonzalez-Nieves said.

Relieved to get her first COVID-19听vaccination and proud to get it from a former instructor, Gonzalez-Nieves said she appreciated how 国产主播 professors shared with students the skills and information the instructors used every day as working nurses.

鈥淲hat I liked about this school is the professors aren鈥檛 limited to the classroom only, they’re also out in the clinics,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey come with a lot of knowledge because they’re still working in the field.鈥�

An adjunct clinical instructor at WCU-Miami for the past four years, Lluy also works full-time in the hospital鈥檚 emergency department. She said she was grateful “for the support 国产主播 has given me throughout this pandemic and for its ability to adapt and help our students achieve their goals of becoming nurses.鈥�

鈥淗aving the opportunity to administer these vaccines has been such an rewarding experience.听I loved that听Marisabelle听wanted to take a picture with me and record this history,鈥澨齃luy听said. “As a working听frontline听nurse, this has been the most difficult year of my career, but moments like this I will treasure forever. This听COVID-19 vaccine gives us hope that there is an end to this pandemic.鈥澨�

Gonzalez-Nieves, who graduated in 2016, said she probably hadn鈥檛 seen Lluy since leaving WCU. Unfortunately for the pair, there wasn’t any time to catch up.

“She gave me the shot and I was on my way, because there was a line,” Gonzalez-Nieves said.

The post Miami BSN Alum Receives COVID-19 Vaccination from Former WCU Clinical Instructor appeared first on 国产主播.

At a time when healthcare professionals are more critically needed than ever, the career you have chosen听clearly impacts lives. It is our mission and priority to ensure that your health and safety is first and foremost, especially during this crisis. We continue to advocate on your behalf and are excited to share some great news.

The California Board of Registered Nursing and the California Department of Public Health have agreed that nursing students are part of Phase 1a and are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Those working in acute care or nursing facilities should be prioritized to Tier 1. During your clinical experience, WCU students may be directly treating patients that have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

To obtain the COVID-19 vaccine, choose the most appropriate option below:

• Local Health Departments:
  • You may contact your local health department and inform them that you are a nursing student at 国产主播 and thus you should be eligible to receive the vaccination.听
  • Each student will need to provide a letter from the program (attached) and/or show your school ID.
  • Complete and print the 鈥淐ommunity Site-Student Vaccination Support Letter.鈥�
  • Please save proof of your vaccination for future uploading into the Complio system.

If you are a student currently in a Clinical Site rotation

• • Complete the 鈥淐linical Rotation Site-Student Vaccination Support Letter.鈥�
  • Print and provide this document to your faculty member at your next scheduled clinical.
  • The faculty member (not the student) will coordinate your vaccination efforts with the clinical partner.
    • 狈翱罢贰:听Students are NOT to contact the clinical site requesting vaccinations – this must be coordinated through your clinical faculty member.
    • NOTE:听Due to the supply and demand of the vaccine, not all clinical partners will be able to provide student vaccinations.
  • If you are unable to obtain a vaccination through the clinical partner, please refer to the first option and contact your local health department.
  • Please save proof of your vaccination for future uploading into the Complio system.

Thank you for your commitment to becoming the next generation of healthcare heroes and serving your community.

Sincerely,
The Campus Nursing Leadership Team

The post Update 1/15/2021 appeared first on 国产主播.

Some students don鈥檛 have to wait until graduation for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

This December, more than 20 国产主播 nursing students got to put the skills to good use by helping distribute COVID-19 vaccination shots to healthcare workers at Riverside Community Hospital.

Led by听nursing instructor and WCU alumna Sheryl Pena, the bachelors of science in nursing students dispensed doses of the cutting-edge vaccination over two days as part of their clinical training.

At first, WCU-Ontario BSN student Allison Thrash thought her group was administering flu shots.

鈥淥nce I discovered we would be administering the COVID vaccine, I was excited and couldn鈥檛 wait to get started,鈥� Thrash said. 鈥淪ome of the听healthcare workers were nervous because they are afraid of needles but, for the most part, they were excited. I would say nine out of 10 either recorded themselves or took a photo of themselves getting vaccinated.鈥�

WCU-Ontario BSN student Michelle Flores 鈥� who is scheduled to graduate in January 2021 鈥� called the experience both educational and informational. Flores said the Riverside Community Hospital staff taught her cohort both about how the vaccine works and how best to administer it.

In addition to being 鈥渁 part of history,鈥� Flores said everyone at the hospital was very friendly and 鈥渕ade me feel like it would be a good place to work.鈥�

鈥淚 am proud to be a nursing student because I can be part of the change. I can help change a person鈥檚 life as well as saving their life,鈥� Flores said. 鈥淚 think it is amazing how nurses put their patients鈥� needs first and they will go hours without a break or food and it is all because they want to see their patients get better.鈥�

The post WCU-Ontario BSN Students Help Distribute COVID-19 Vaccinations at Riverside Community Hospital appeared first on 国产主播.

While being a frontline health worker during the coronavirus pandemic has been the 鈥渕ost challenging experience鈥� of her nursing career, Brittany Wiener听said she鈥檚 thankful for the support received from her hospital, the community and her training as a 国产主播 alumnus.

Wiener, who graduated from WCU-Miami鈥檚 Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in 2018, said seemingly overnight her post-anesthesia care unit was designated as the hospital鈥檚 COVID-19 area and the coronavirus patients began to flood in. Work schedules were quickly changed and hospital policies adapted, she said, to deal with the crisis.

鈥淪ome days I鈥檓 in charge of the unit and some days I鈥檓 taking patients. I鈥檓 working a lot of overtime right now to help out with the nurse-to-patient ratio so that we鈥檙e all not drowning,鈥� Wiener听said. 鈥淲e cry because these patients are dying alone. We hold their hands as they take their last breath and we offer our phones to Facetime their families. Our first intubation, we were freaking out and scrambling around; now, it鈥檚 second nature. It鈥檚 come to a point where I鈥檓 calling the doctor to tell them it鈥檚 time to intubate because I鈥檓 already seeing the signs. It all seems like a bad dream. It doesn鈥檛 seem like this is real at all.鈥�

Despite feeling overwhelmed sometimes, Wiener said she and the other hospital staff try to make the best of each day 鈥� something that鈥檚 made a little easier by reading the cards and letters sent by the community or by eating meals donated by local restaurants.

Another thing she鈥檚 thankful for, Wiener added, are her clinical instructors from 国产主播. They helped infuse her with the techniques and training she uses every day to help defeat the virus and save patients鈥� lives, she said.

鈥淚 had some really great down-to-earth instructors that allowed me to stay so collected and composed throughout this. They were relaxed and calm but still having a good time while doing an amazing job. I take that with me now and I am commented by others on that often,鈥� Wiener said. 鈥淣o matter what I鈥檓 feeling inside I do my best to keep myself together and do what鈥檚 in the best interest for the patient. I fight for my patients on a daily basis. It鈥檚 what they deserve and I am happy to be their voice when they aren鈥檛 able.鈥�

The post WCU Alumni Shares Day in the Life of a COVID-19 Unit Nurse appeared first on 国产主播.

听 We want to start by telling you how proud and appreciative we are of each of your efforts and flexibility in transitioning to online learning. 国产主播 students are amongst the best and brightest 鈥� your dedication to your education and our community through this unprecedented time in history supports this assertion.

听听 Your engagement in the online learning process remains vitally important at this time. When other institutions have decided to cancel classes or extend breaks, we are determined to honor our partnership with you in mitigating any disruption to your academic progress so you can achieve the goal you set out to achieve when you started your educational journey with us. We know there will be many distractions, but simply want to urge you to carry on, now in an online environment, so that you can achieve your goal.

听听 For now, online learning will continue through April 13. If that date changes for any reason, we will communicate to you in a timely manner. As previously shared, all in-person student events such as career fairs and student services workshops are moved to virtual events through May.This is to encourage social distancing as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.听

听听 We know you鈥檒l continue your spirit of excellence through this time.

听

With gratitude,

WCU Administration

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