NursesNOW Roundup March 2020
Looking to keep your finger on the pulse of the nursing industry? Check out this month’s top nursing news stories from around the globe.
Nurses and all healthcare professionals are working around the clock as they combat the coronavirus pandemic. Read below how nurses and nursing organizations are responding to this global problem.
In the News
ANA Responds to Coronavirus Pandemic Declaration
Given the pandemic declaration, the American Nurses Association (@ANANursingWorld), representing the nation’s 4 million registered nurses, believes a more definitive statement from CDC about the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) is needed.
Considerations for COVID-19 Preparedness and Response in U.S. Schools of Nursing
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (@AACNursing) has developed some recommendations for our member schools to consider as they move ahead with their plans to address the COVID-19 outbreak in their local communities and campuses. The recommendations linked below relate to didactic and clinical education, student travel, alternate teaching approaches, and additional resources for faculty and students.
The next 15 days are especially important to #FlattenTheCurve. Older adults and individuals with underlying health conditions are especially susceptible. Practicing #SocialDistancing protects yourself AND those around you. (Images via @WhiteHouse) pic.twitter.com/t5nZBix8XK
— American Academy of Nursing (@AAN_Nursing) March 16, 2020
The American Academy of Nursing Calls for Caution and Care as the Coronavirus Continues to Spread
The American Academy of Nursing (@AAN_Nursing) amplifies the call for necessary precautions as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread. In a briefing on March 9, members of the White House Coronavirus Taskforce addressed several considerations related to COVID19, from the economic impact to the real and pressing health considerations. A particularly important focus remains on the populations most vulnerable to COVID-19. It was reinforced that individuals with pre-existing conditions (of all age groups), older adults, and those individuals with immunodeficiencies are at the greatest risk.
Medicare Telehealth Waivers Update
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (@AANP_NEWS) reports on March 17, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a waiver of certain Medicare telehealth provisions, pursuant to new waiver authority granted by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (Coronavirus Act), which was signed into law on March 6, 2020.
2020 ANIA Annual Conference Rescheduled
After closely monitoring the evolving situation with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the American Nursing Informatics Association (@ANIAinformatics) Board of Directors has approved rescheduling the 2020 Annual Conference in Chicago from May 7-9, 2020 to August 20-22, 2020.
Resources on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) from the AONL
The American Organization for Nursing Leadership (@tweetAONL) is updating their resource page continuously.
AMSN Response & Resources to COVID-19
Like most of you, the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (@MedSurgNurses) is carefully monitoring and watching the cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world and the response to the spread of this virus. While we do not want to encourage panic, AMSN believes in preparedness when facing this new disease. AMSN believes our nurses deserve to know their hospital/employer’s plans for handling COVID-19 as it continues to spread throughout our communities, and our nurses deserve to work in a safe and healthy workplace.
Nurses: Time to sharply ramp up health care capacity for COVID-19
National Nurses United (@NationalNurses), the largest union of registered nurses in the United States, called on an embattled nation to dramatically ramp up health care capacity in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Imagine we were at war. We are—with a pandemic,” said NNU Executive Director Bonnie Castillo, RN.
To Read
Coronavirus – What Social Distancing Means
As the situation around the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in this country evolves, we’ve seen the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issue guidance about canceling or postponing in-person events. The American Red Cross (@RedCross) gives their advice about what social distancing entails.
200 Connecticut Nurses Exposed To Coronavirus Sidelined Due To Lack Of Testing
Huffington Post (@HuffPost) reports that some 200 nurses at one hospital in Connecticut are in isolation and unable to do their jobs because they can’t get tested for the coronavirus. “If I could test those nurses, I could potentially get them back into the game a lot sooner,” Gov. Ned Lamont told MSNBC’s Chris Hayes.
Events
Check individual websites for updates on cancellations and rescheduling nursing conferences around the country.
Thank You
Remember that the year 2020 has been declared the Year of the Nurse. Thank you to all nurses who are currently on the frontline everyday fighting COVID-19.
The American Nurses Association has declared 2020 as The Year of The Nurse.In honor of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, the goal is to encourage inclusivity and participation of all nurses, including nurse midwives, in this landmark year of activities.
Share your story with #YON2020 #YearOfTheNurse
