The Connecticut League for Nursing’s Council of Deans & Directors Supports that National Policy Brief and Highlights below how our Colleges and Universities can Partner with Practice Settings to Support a Robust and Safe Nursing Workforce during the COVID-9 Crisis and Aftermath.
Purpose
This policy brief is a collaborative effort of nursing leaders who propose & support academic/practice partnerships between health care facilities and pre-licensure registered nursing (RN) and practical/vocational nursing (PN/VN) programs across the country during the COVID-19 crisis. This is one potential model to consider. It is not mandated, rather an innovative approach to meeting academic and workforce needs.

• The proposed model requires cautious evaluation at the local level with a clear understanding that:
  The participation of student nurses and faculty is voluntary and must comply with any additional requirements mandated in state emergency response provisions or through existing Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements;
• The safety for all front-line providers of services across multiple points of care must be safeguarded through appropriate and prevailing infection control practices

Context
COVID-19 is a virus affecting the entire world. To date, thousands of people in the U.S. have tested positive for the disease, and it is anticipated that many more will be affected in the near future. After observing the pattern of the virus, the U.S. anticipates an overabundance of patients inundating hospitals and possibly overwhelming the entire U.S. healthcare system.

• A significant demand is being placed on the entire nursing workforce, and this is anticipated to increase at an alarming rate.
• Simultaneously, the pandemic has affected pre-licensure RN and PN/VN nursing students across the country. Clinical experiences with patients are an essential part of every nursing program curriculum and are mandated by the State Boards of Nursing for licensure. Many hospitals and health care facilities have determined that pre-licensure RN and PN/VN nursing students should not be in contact with patients and have discontinued student clinical experiences in their facility. Without this valuable experience, all nursing students will have a deficit in their education, are unable to meet their program requirements and will not be eligible for graduation at a time when RNs and PN/VNs are needed in the healthcare.

Proposal
Health care facilities and nursing education programs are encouraged to partner during the COVID-19 crisis.
CLN’s Response:
For the past 12 months the leadership of the Schools & Program of Nursing and of Acute Care practice Settings in Connecticut have been actively engaged in work to address:

• Promoting and Empowering Bedside Nursing
• Models to Embed Resources for Clinical Instruction
• Graduate Education & Counseling for Professional Development and
• Better understand the Nursing Workforce Demographics through EDUCATION, SUPPLY and DEMAND survey results- In January 2020, a Full Proposal was sent by the CT Center for Nursing Workforce, Inc. to the Dept. of Labor and in March 2020 to the Governor’s Office to fund these comprehensive Data Collection, Analysis, and Dissemination initiatives so that proactive nursing and healthcare workforce planning can be a top priority for the state to build a robust and sustainable nursing and healthcare workforce in Connecticut.

Workgroups have produced and disseminated white papers, partnership models and publications to all of the Chief Nursing Officers, Professional Development Nurse Educators, Deans & Directors and Faculty showcasing models to support a robust and sustainable nursing workforce in Connecticut. Among these options proposing solutions to enhance the Connecticut nursing workforce, the Council of Deans & Directors have proposed models as how nursing students directly supervised by nursing faculty can be utilized to support the COVID-19 response efforts.

Pre-licensure RN students from diploma, associate degree and baccalaureate degree nursing programs and PN/VN students from certificate nursing programs could augment and support nursing services in health care facilities.
CLN’s Response:
Propose that our pre-licensure nursing students and associated faculty from our Schools/Programs of Nursing augment the nursing workforce within healthcare facilities in the following areas:

• Increasing the number of Nurse Technicians or Nursing Assistants within the workforce with Sophomore, Junior and Senior level students using educationally sound approaches (see attached for an example of a model of engagement- Fairfield Univ.)
• Increasing the number of Graduate Nurses (GNs) (academically prepared, yet not licensed) within the workforce with newly graduating students in light of balancing the remainder of their nursing education and need to study for the National Licensing Exam (NCLEX), and
• Increasing the number of licensed Registered Nurses in the workforce by working with nurses re-entering practice via CLN’s 100% Online RN Refresher Course to support new hires into the practice settings.

Nursing students would be employed by the facility on a full- or part-time basis and work in the role of a student nurse for compensation and, in conjunction with the student’s nursing education program, would receive academic credit toward meeting clinical requirements.

• Programs would be developed in collaboration with academic and practice partners
• Nursing faculty must be engaged to supervise the work of the students’ in these programs if credit is awarded for this work

Nursing students would be required to be enrolled in a State Board of Nursing approved (or its equivalent) RN or PN/VN pre-licensure program.
CLN’s Response:
Connecticut practice settings would dictate the employment relationship directly with the pre-licensure student, and the awarding of academic credit for such experiences (Capstone’s) would be decided upon by each academic institution in alignment with current University/College policies and practices.
Moreover, NOT all students may choose to engage in these academic/employment opportunities as their participation is NOT mandatory.

Benefits:
This opportunity will not only provide much needed clinical education to assist in meeting program requirements, it is an unparalleled opportunity for nursing students to assist the nation in a time of crisis and learn the principles of population health and emergency management. This academic-practice model demonstrates that in the midst of a periling disruption in the environment, such as COVID-19, continuous innovation can occur.


Policy Recommendations:
1. Health care facilities and nursing programs are encouraged to promulgate plans to take advantage of this opportunity and make every effort to reach out to eligible nursing students and inform them of the opportunity.
CLN’s Response:
Practice Setting will share opportunities with the CT Nurses’ Association, CT Center for Nursing Workforce & CT League for Nursing- RN Student Day Attendees if registered directly with CLN, CT Center for Nursing Workforce to promote; and via their organization’s website, social media, and other communication platforms.
2. Health care facilities and nursing programs are encouraged to collaborate to identify ways to accomplish appropriate faculty supervision of the nursing student-employee to achieve the final learning outcomes of the nursing program. For example,
CLN’s Response:
Options for Engagement & Collaboration:

• The healthcare facility hires the Nursing Program Faculty to oversee the nursing student/employee
• The Nurse Program Faculty holds a joint appointment between the School and the health care facility
• The health care facility provides Preceptors to oversee the nursing student/employee with Nursing Program Faculty oversight in accordance with established CT regulation.

The above examples illustrate a few ways in which the Connecticut School & Programs of Nursing can support growth and development of the incumbent:

• Nursing faculty can oversee the employee who is a current nursing student to ensure competence, confidence and safety in performing Nurse Tech tasks,
• Nursing faculty can engage in a joint appointment to oversee and support employed Graduate Nurses to ensure competence, confidence and safety in the role of a new nurse,
• Nurse faculty can act as a supervisor to practice nurse preceptors to ensure educational best-practices are applied to the newly licensed RN Residency and Onboarding experiences, and
• Nurse faculty can act as an extension of the practice-based nursing education departments servicing the entry level, experienced nurse and advanced practice nurse with safe and quality care.

3. Nursing program leaders/faculty are encouraged to work with health care facility representatives to align clinical skills and competencies with the nursing student-employee work role/responsibilities.
CLN’s Response:
CT’s Schools and Programs of Nursing utilize the Massachusetts Nurse of the Future Core Competencies (MA DOE, 2016) in their curriculum design as well as other best-practice competency models including QSEN.


4. Nursing student-employees must have planned clinical practice experiences that enable the students to attain new knowledge and demonstrate achievement of the final learning outcomes of the nursing program.
CLN’s Response:
The Schools and Programs of Nursing have compiled best-practices, virtual experiences, and simulation that have been distributed to all faculty to ensure that program objectives and outcomes will be met at the end of the final year of study and program completion. As Simulation is an everchanging modality for nursing education, it is imperative that Connecticut Colleges/Universities have the needed resources to ensure program excellence. Through the Healthcare Simulation Network of CT (HSNCT) supported by the Connecticut League for Nursing, leaders of the Simulation Centers can best identify and recommend the critical resources for a robust Simulated Learning experiences that will meet program outcomes at all level.


5. Nursing programs should consult with their State Board of Nursing to ensure clinical requirement regulations would be met with this opportunity and experience.
CLN’s Response:
Through the Council of Deans & Directors, the CT SBEN approved a motion during the March 18, 2020 Nursing Board meeting to approve the use of alternative clinical experiences for nursing students of advanced standing.
6. Nursing programs are responsible for informing nursing students of the risks and responsibilities associated with working in a healthcare facility at this time. Additionally, nursing programs are responsible for communicating with students about their rights to be protected from infection and their options for completing the clinical practice requirements of the nursing program.
CLN’s Response:
Schools and Program of Nursing will not be soliciting students directly to participate in these voluntary work experiences.
Endorsement by National Nursing Organizations and Associations:

• National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
• National League for Nursing (NLN)
• American Organization of Nursing Leadership (AONL)
• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc (ACEN)
• Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN)
• NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA)
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• National Student Nurses' Association (NSNA)
• American Nurses Association (ANA)

Healthcare Simulation Network of Connecticut (HSNCT)
The Healthcare Simulation Network of Connecticut (HSNCT) is a group of healthcare simulation administrators, educators, and staff dedicated to providing resources, professional development, and networking opportunities in the field of healthcare simulation throughout the State of Connecticut. The mission of the network is to enhance the use of simulation and fully integrate it into academic curricula and assessment of healthcare competencies.

The HSNCT began in 2013 and meetings are hosted quarterly at various healthcare/academic locations across Connecticut.  The network continues to grow and provides opportunities for members to collaborate, share knowledge of simulation design, development, implementation, and evaluation strategies, and encourage continued innovation in the way we educate our future healthcare professionals.

In response to member needs during the 2019-2020 academic year, the HSNCT addressed the following topics through presentations and round table discussion: guiding simulation programs in developing a mission and vision statement and a policy manual following the Society for Simulation in Healthcare’s Accreditation Standards 2016; Oxford Medical Simulation Virtual Reality Presentation; developing an escape room. Participation and attendance were comprised of healthcare educators with various levels of expertise in simulation. The plan for the last meeting of the academic year was a four-hour workshop presented by Avkin on simulated participants (patient actors). However, this was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is our plan to reschedule this presentation in the 2020-21 academic year.

To celebrate Healthcare Simulation Week 2019 sponsored by the Society for Simulation in Health, HSNCT created a CPR simulation and a Safety in the Home simulation. These were dispersed to the membership for use in their institutions to celebrate the week. The simulations could be modified as to the needs of each institution. Members were asked to share how their institution celebrated Healthcare Simulation Week 2019 at the September meeting.

The HSNCT initiatives for 2020-2021 will be guided by member needs and feedback gathered from our members and, will focus on building simulation best practices and promoting sustainability for simulation programs.
Membership in the network is open to those healthcare professionals involved in simulation teaching and learning within academia, practice and other organizations committed to excellence in Simulation. 

Respectfully submitted,

Co-Chairs:
Rose DeSiena, M.Ed., RN, CHSE, Simulation Coordinator, Southern Connecticut State University
Joan K. Graham, DNP, RN, CNE, CHSE, Professor of Nursing, Three Rivers Community College

Secretary:
Darlene Rogers, BSN, RN, Quinnipiac University

The Connecticut League for Nursing (CLN) attracts Board Members whose expertise and skills contribute to the ongoing success and sustainability of the League's mission:  To promote excellence in nursing education to build a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the nation's health.
​
The Role of the CLN board is to provide strategic thinking and direction to the organization in the following priority areas:

• Strengthen relationships and partnerships between academia and practice to support innovative strategies in education to foster the successful transition and retention of new nurses to all practice settings; and
• Monitor and Assess the overall statewide capacity of nursing schools/programs at all education levels to align nursing graduates with projected employment demands from Connecticut healthcare providers to ensure that safe, quality and culturally sensitive care is accessible to meet the healthcare needs of our diverse Connecticut population.

CLN is delighted to introduce the 2020-21 OFFICERS & BOARD OF DIRECTORS :

Officers:
President:                 
Lisa Rebeschi, Associate Dean, Quinnipiac University

​President-Elect:        
Dawn Bunting, Division Director, Nursing, Capital Community College

Co-Treasurers: 
Vivienne Friday, ABSN Program Director, Goodwin University AND
Sheila Solernou, Division Dir., Allied Health & Nursing, Gateway Community College

Secretary:                 
Sherylyn Watson, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, College of Nursing, Sacred Heart University

Directors:
Patricia Baker - President & CEO, CT Health Foundation
Susan D’Agostino -  Director, Graduate Nurse Practitioner Programs, Quinnipiac University
Cheryl Ann Green - Assistant Professor, Southern CT State University & Nurse Leader, Yale-New Haven Hospital
Wendy Garvin Mayo - Assoc. Dir, Oncology Clinical Scientist, Janssen Research & Development Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
Kelly Papa  - VP of Strategy & Community Life, Duncaster
Teresa Puckhaber-  Asst. Professor, Department of Nursing, Western CT State University
Marie Spivey  - Principal, SEET, LLC
Lisa Sundean  - Assistant Professor, College of Nursing & Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston
Teresa Twomey - Dir. Global Nursing Experiences & Asst. Professor, Quinnipiac Univ.

​The Connecticut League for Nursing (CLN) celebrated its 65th Anniversary of doing business within the State of Connecticut with a "power-packed" luncheon by recognizing the accomplishments of 65 Nurses Over the Age of 65! "It was amazing to honor these nurses. Their collective impact on nursing and healthcare in Connecticut is truly profound!", shared Marcia Proto, CLN's Executive Director,"CLN is proud to have supported and served nursing & nursing education for the past 65 years in Connecticut."

Thinking how to celebrate CLN's 65th year in business, the CLN staff and leadership decided to craft a special recognition Campaign to be titled, "65 Over 65- Leaving Your Nursing Legacy in Connecticut". Then the CLN leadership decided to take this Campaign one-step-further to host a once-in-a-lifetime event to celebrate the contributions of these amazing men and women.

With the help of our members, CLN identified 65 such nursing leaders and compiled the history of each honoree and pictures taken at the beginning of their nursing careers as well as a current photo. Each honoree included a personal quote or pearl of wisdom that they wished to share which summed up their nursing career.

To see pictures of the day, visit our Facebook Album and to view those nurses honored scroll down.

All in attendance enjoyed the powerful keynote address given by Dr. Catherine Alicia Georges. Dr. Georges is professor and chair of the Department of Nursing at Lehman College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She is President of the National Black Nurses Foundation, serves on the Board of the Black Women's Health Study and R.A.I.N., Inc. In addition, Dr. Georges holds the role of President of the National Board of AARP so it was fitting for CLN to recognize her as the final honoree, the 65th of 65 in our 65 over 65 Leaving Your Nursing Legacy Campaign! Dr. Georges is professor and chair of the Department of Nursing at Lehman College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She is President of the National Black Nurses Foundation, serves on the Board of the Black Women's Health Study and R.A.I.N., Inc.

In addition, Dr. Georges holds the role of President of the National Board of AARP so it was fitting for CLN to recognize her as the final honoree, the 65th of 65 in our 65 over 65 Leaving Your Nursing Legacy Campaign!
Honorees listed in order of date honored. 

View all 65 over 65 by clicking on file below.

Congratulations, Susan Deane, EdD, MSN, CNE, Dean of the Nursing Program at SUNY Delhi!

SUNY- Delhi was recognized as one of six Schools and Programs of Nursing for Enhancing Student Learning and Professional Development. 

Ten nursing programs from across the country and across the academic spectrum of higher education in nursing as well as leading teaching hospitals and clinical sites have been named as 2019 National League for Nursing Centers of Excellence™. Formal recognition of this prestigious designation will be made during the 2019 NLN Education Summit at National Harbor near Washington, D.C., at the Honors Convocation on Saturday, September 28. The Summit annually draws a large crowd of nurse faculty, deans, and administrators, and professionals from allied health organizations.

The 2019 NLN Centers of Excellence include:

Enhancing Student Learning and Professional Development

• Duke University School of Nursing
• Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
• St. Joseph's College of Nursing
• SUNY-Delhi
• University of Nevada-Las Vegas
• University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing and Health Innovation

Promoting Pedagogical Expertise of Faculty

• Louisiana State University Health New Orleans School of Nursing
• University of West Georgia
• Vanderbilt University

Advancing the Science of Nursing Education

• Adelphi University

"On behalf of the National League for Nursing, I extend congratulations to these exceptional institutions that have been designated as 2019 NLN Centers of Excellence," said G. Rumay Alexander, EdD, RN, FAAN, NLN president and professor and associate vice chancellor/chief diversity officer at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. "The individuals behind this label—faculty, deans, and administrators—deserve our deepest gratitude for creating and sustaining educational excellence in nursing. Centers of Excellence faculty and leadership bear a responsibility to share their experience, knowledge, and wisdom for the benefit of everyone in nursing education."

"Centers of Excellence help raise the bar for all nursing programs by role modeling visionary leadership and environments of inclusive excellence. These programs will nurture the next generation of a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the health of the nation and the global community," said NLN CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN.

Each year since 2004, the NLN has invited nursing schools to apply to become a COE, based on their ability to demonstrate in concrete, measurable terms sustained excellence in faculty development, nursing education research, or student learning and professional development.

​For more information about the program and application requirements, including the 2020 timeline, visit here. For more information about the 2019 NLN Education Summit, visit NLN.org/Summit.