Since the global outbreak of COVID-19 necessitated the movement of all didactic and clinical experiences to an online format, the faculty and staff of the School of Nursing have moved rapidly and efficiently to continue providing our students with quality educational experiences. With a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and sustained advocacy for our students who, like the faculty, were rapidly asked to convert to an online milieu, the School of Nursing has met the challenge. Clinical experiences are provided using virtual simulation and nationally vetted case studies, supervised by our faculty. We continue to teach clinical problem-solving skills in collaboration using Zoom synchronous sessions and other online technologies.

As the uncertainty of the global crisis continues, and knowing that returning to our campus is unlikely soon, the School of Nursing made the decision to provide all didactic instruction for the summer semester using a synchronous/asynchronous format; additionally, for the incoming students, all clinical experiences will be virtual. For our continuing students, we are actively collaborating with our practice colleagues in the Mass General Brigham System to return students to direct patient care placements as soon as possible in the summer semester.

Nurses have always answered the call to serve their country and communities during times of crisis. We know that clear communication, collaboration, resilience, and innovation are key to navigating the challenges of effectively responding to COVID-19. With this understanding, the School of Nursing has already been answering the call to provide nursing care to our Mass General Brigham colleagues:

Early in the crisis, we responded to a call from MGH asking our students in the second, third and fourth semesters to volunteer to be Patient Care Assistants (PCAs). Over 75 students answered the call and are providing needed support services.

MGH requested assistance from our RN faculty and Advanced Practice (AP) students to meet two emerging needs: staff for the Partner’s Call Center and for the role of Infection Steward at MGH. Both faculty and AP students responded to the call.

Additionally, our Advanced Practice students are actively providing telehealth services to the Boston community’s most vulnerable populations; working collaboratively with the interprofessional team in several satellite health care centers, they are reaching out to marginalized patient populations to assess their emerging needs and mobilize support services.

MGH also asked SON faculty who are experts in critical care to provide workshops to their ambulatory care nurses who are being deployed to acute, critical areas in the hospital.

Over the past few weeks, we have also been in contact with Mass General Brigham about the need for supportive nursing care at Boston Hope, a partnership with Boston Health Care for the Homeless, Governor Charles Baker and his administration, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, and regional hospitals and health care workers for 1,000 nonacute COVID-19 patients at the Boston Convention and Exposition Center. The purpose of Boston Hope is to allow more time for patients to recuperate while providing MGH and other Mass General Brigham hospitals more room for more acutely ill patients. Jeanette Ives Erickson, MGH Institute Board Chair, is the co-medical and operations director of the Center.

To assist with staffing, we have reached out to our students. Our current final semester students are being recruited to work as Graduate Nurses. Continuing students will also be active participants at Boston Hope, both through faculty led clinical experiences and as PCAs. We are proud of the School of Nursing’s active response to the call for supportive nursing personnel at Boston Hope; we will work with the students to assist them to continue their studies while they provide essential nursing care to the Boston community.