Changes to the Nursing Curriculum as a Result of the Pandemic

The Role of Nurses Changes to the Nursing Curriculum as a Result of the Pandemic

Rayna Letourneau, PhD, RN | December 3, 2020 Global Interdependence Center Executive Briefing

RN Characteristics Active RN Licenses

4,639,548

Est. # Working RNs

3,925,058

Educational Level

7.4%

Diploma

28.5%

Associate Degree

45.2%

Baccalaureate Degree

17.1%

Master’s Degree

1.1%

DNP

0.6%

PhD

0.1%

Other

Primary Employment Setting

Hospital 55.7% Ambulatory Care 9.4% Nursing Home 4.8% (Smiley et al., 2018)

RN Gender, Race and Ethnicity Male

9.1%

American Indian or Alaska Native

0.4%

Asian

7.5%

Black/African American

6.2%

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

0.5%

White/Caucasian

80.8%

Other

2.9%

Two or more races

1.7%

Hispanic or Latino origin

5.3% (Smiley et al., 2018)

Traits of Nurses • Most trusted profession for past 18 years • Caring • Empathetic • Resilient • Problem solvers • Critical thinkers • Patient advocates

What do Nurses do?

What do nurses do well?

What do nurses not do well?

• Assess patients/population

• Self Care

• Diagnostic tests • Patient education • Medication administration • Promote health and wellness

Health and Wellness of Nurses (ANA, 2016) • Nurses are less healthy than the average American • Overweight • High levels of stress • Sleep deprivation

• Depression and Suicide • 50% of nurses experience burnout (Shanafelt et al., 2015) • 33% of nurses experience depression (Melnyk et al., 2018) • Higher risk of suicide than the general population (Davidson et al., 2020)

25% Physically assaulted at work by patient or patient’s family member

Occupational Safety (ANA, 2016)

9% Concerned for their physical safety at work 45% Ranked lifting/repositioning of heavy objects as a significant health and safety risk

COVID-19 Pandemic

Unhealthy Nursing Workforce

COVID-19 Pandemic

Exhaustion Burnout Stress Depression Suicide

What is the role of Nursing Academia in Response to COVID-19?

Prepare Future Nurses • Curricular enhancements • COVID related education • Innovative strategies to increase competence and confidence • Integrate Self Care Strategies • Mentorship

Senior RN Student Practicum

N

Evaluation of Innovative Strategies

Pretest Mean SD

Posttest Mean SD

p

K

103

35.8

3.9

38.6

3.7

.000*

S

103

35.7

4.2

38.4

3.8

.000*

A

103

38.2

3.9

39.5

3.3

.000*

What Else Can Academia Do?

(NCSBN, 2020)

What can we do for RNs? • Support FRONTLINE NURSES • Listen to nurses • Provide continuing education

The Role of Academic Nursing • Critical role in response to COVID-19 • Create a highly educated workforce • Advance impact of nursing on: • Patient outcomes • Health and wellness of the nation

Rayna Letourneau, PhD, RN Assistant Professor raynaletourneau@usf.edu Please contact me for reference list.