Coronavirus response & information
During this challenging time, our Husky Nurse network has stepped up to support our community and each other. From clinical work in the field helping those impacted by COVID-19 to generous support for our students, times of adversity seem to always bring out the best in us. #TogetherWeWill
How the UW School of Nursing is responding to the outbreak
Response
Updated: February 3, 2022
Since the beginning of the pandemic, UW nursing students and faculty have been on the COVID-19 frontlines, from helping to vaccinate healthcare workers and first responders to providing care to individuals and families affected by COVID-19.
From Tukwila to Seattle, students started volunteering to help with COVID-19 vaccination efforts in mid-December 2020, during what would normally be their winter break, and have continued on into the new year, even as they manage class and clinical workloads. Vaccination and care sites include the Snoqualmie Tribe, UW Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, COVID-19 assessment and recovery and isolation facilities managed by Public Health—Seattle & King County (PHSKC) and Tent City 3 managed by University District Street Medicine.
In order to expand their reach, the UW School of Nursing launched a vaccine “boot camp” to provide focused, physically distanced, hands-on training for all health sciences students who have not yet learned advanced injection and safety procedures. This Interprofessional Vaccine Boot Camp at the School of Nursing’s Simulation Center is taught by volunteer graduate nursing students and faculty from nursing and other health sciences schools. To date, they have trained over 380 students. The goal is to ensure confident, safe administration of the vaccine by all health sciences students. Needles and other supplies for the boot camp, which are in high demand during the pandemic, were generously donated by Retractable Technologies, the manufacturer of the needle being issued in the vaccine kits. Other supplies, such as PPE, are available due to generous funding from the Centers for Disease Control Foundation.
The school also partnered with the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing to host a virtual symposium on the role nurses play in the race to vaccinate a nation.
UW nursing students have been at the forefront of COVID-19 response since March 2020. When traditional hands-on clinical opportunities disappeared due to safety and health concerns, the school partnered with PHSKC to give students the opportunity to help meet health needs and treat COVID-19 patients. Since last April students have been working in the PHSKC Call Center, providing virtual health visits, and working at clinical sites throughout the county. This extraordinary partnership has provided dozens of students with unique real-world clinical experiences while sharing their skills and knowledge so critical during the pandemic.
Related News Coverage
- Nursing to send students to work at long-term care facilities – Q13 (November 29, 2021)
- They See Us as the Enemy’: School Nurses Battle Covid-19, and Angry Parents (featuring Associate Professor Mayumi Willgerodt) – New York Times (November 13, 2021)
- Building Better Health Care (featuring the vaccination boot camp) – UW (October 11, 2021)
- Pandemic-era crowdfunding more common, successful in affluent communities (featuring UW Bothell nursing professor Nora Kenworthy) – UW News (June 16, 2021)
- UW School of Nursing application numbers soar as pandemic sparks new interest in profession – Q13 (March 5, 2021)
- UW students join the front lines of the vaccination effort – UW News (March 4, 2021)
- Snoqualmie Tribe Partners with Eastside Fire & Rescue to Open Tribal Vaccination Clinic – Snoqualmie Tribe (March 1, 2021)
- UW vaccine boot camp trains medical students to administer shots – KING5 (January 28, 2021)
- King Co. leaders’ push to make sure vaccine allocation matches its population (highlights Vaccination Boot Camp) – KIRO7 (January 26, 2021)
- Nursing Students Help Vaccinate Healthcare Workers – UW School of Nursing News (December 29, 2020)
- In pandemic milestone, UW brings COVID-19 vaccines to frontline health care workers – UW News (December 28, 2020)
- University of Washington Nursing Students Make an Impact on COVID-19 Care – CDC Foundation (October 2020)
- School of Nursing partners with county to offer clinical opportunities for nursing students during COVID-19 – The Daily (May 15, 2020)
- 1 million nurses needed by 2022 – KIRO7 News (May 12, 2020)
- ‘A lot of opportunity in these ashes‘ – KOMO4 News (May 7, 2020)
- UW nursing student feels lucky to be on the front lines fighting COVID-19 – KNKX (May 4, 2020)
- UW Nursing students joint frontline efforts to battle COVID-19, meet public health needs – UW News (April 16, 2020)
- VIDEO: Nursing students step up during coronavirus response – KIRO7 (April 13, 2020)
Helpful resources and information
Resources for Returning to Campus (may require a UW NetID)
- The Essentials – checklist for your first day back on campus
- UW COVID-19 FAQs
- School of Nursing (Seattle Campus) COVID-19 Prevention Plan
- UW Novel Coronavirus Information Site
- UW Health & Safety (EH&S) is the lead office on campus for developing safety standards in UW facilities. This site provides useful information such as coronavirus facts and building readiness guidelines.
- Employees are to complete a COVID-19 Vaccine Attestation Form in Workday indicating they are fully vaccinated or declaring an exemption.
- Face Covering Guidance and UW Policy: The most current ES&H policy page regarding face coverings.
- SoN Clear Mask Guidelines
- Eating and Drinking Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention
- Required Safety Training: Prior to returning to onsite work, all employees are to complete a required one-time safety training.
- Daily COVID-19 employee symptom attestation is no longer required prior to on-site work regardless of vaccination status unless the employee works in health care, child care, and/or K-12 settings.
- Staff and Student Employees Telework Policy/Procedures
- Parenting Resources and Reminders
- Creating a successful hybrid work environment
- Professional Development Resources
- Learning Technology and Teaching Resources
- Health Sciences Library Resources
- Link to Previous SoN COVID Communications
- Light Rail station openings impact to bus service
- Which campus buildings will be unlocked AUT quarter
- Coronavirus information for UW F1 & J1 students
- Message from Executive Dean Azita Emami regarding autumn quarter (June 30, 2020)
- School of Nursing student information
- Frequently asked questions
- School of Nursing faculty/staff information (UW NetID required)
- UW Libraries Blog: resources for transitioning to online learning
- Additional library resources
- University of Washington resources and updates
Support School of Nursing COVID-19 Efforts
The faculty and staff at the UW School of Nursing developed innovative solutions to the challenges proposed by the coronavirus pandemic. Most recently, we implemented three new clinical opportunities to allow our students to safely learn, meet curriculum requirements, and serve in a time when there is a very urgent public need for nursing skills. If you would like to support the School’s response to the coronavirus, there are two ways that you can do so:
COVID-19 Response Support
Nurses are on the frontlines of fighting this pandemic. From conducting research to participating in clinicals, our priority is the safety of our students and faculty. Please consider giving to our COVID-19 support fund, which will be used to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) to help them serve our community effectively and safely.
Emergency Student Support
Many of our students are experiencing financial hardships as they continue with their studies. We invite you to make a gift to the Fathi Family Endowed Emergency Fund for Nursing Students. This fund was created in partnership with the Fathi Family to provide support to our students to continue their education.