亚色影库

Connell School of Nursing Associate Dean for Undergraduate Prorgrams Colleen Simonelli conducts a COVID test on a CSON undergraduate who has a clinical placement this semester. (Photo by Peter Julian)

With their knowledge of infection control protocols, patient and provider safety, and clinical care, the Connell School of Nursing faculty played an important role in Boston College鈥檚 well-executed plan to have students back on the Heights last fall amid the pandemic to learn and live on campus.

Connell School Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs Colleen Simonelli, a clinical professor, was the only nurse and one of two faculty members on the University鈥檚 COVID task force. Prior to the start of the fall semester, she surveyed CSON faculty working in clinical settings to learn what protocols regarding masks and testing would translate to the University setting.

鈥淚t was great to have nurses鈥� voices heard and rewarding to know nurses鈥� expertise was being valued,鈥� said Simonelli of her work on the task force. 鈥淓veryone was very receptive to optimizing the campus environment, which is so indicative of Boston College.鈥�

Simonelli, Connell School Associate Dean for Graduate Programs Susan Kelly-Weeder, other CSON clinical and nonclinical faculty members, and graduate students enrolled in the nurse practitioner programs who were RNs were all on the team of licensed providers, including University Health Services staff and others, who conducted COVID testing of 亚色影库 students, faculty, and staff. While the students were able to put the experience toward their clinical hours requirement, the CSON faculty conducted testing on a volunteer basis. Connell School faculty and NP students returned to Conte Forum this month for the COVID testing in advance of the start of the spring semester.

鈥淚t feels awesome to serve,鈥� said Connell School Clinical Instructor Alison Marshall, who recalled swabbing 572 community members (鈥渕y personal best鈥�) during one shift as a tester in the Margot Connell Recreation Center last fall. 鈥淜eeping the campus COVID-free has been the work of many, many different organizations on campus, and we at the School of Nursing are very pleased and proud to be a part of that effort.鈥�

鈥溠巧�影库 is a community and we needed to help out,鈥� added Simonelli, who credited Connell School Programs and Admissions Specialist MaryBeth Crowley for her 鈥渁mazing鈥� work coordinating the 鈥渟wabber schedule.鈥�

One of the 鈥渟wabbers鈥� was Clinical Assistant Professor Patricia Underwood, director of the Family Nurse Practitioner Program, who reached out to UHS Associate Director Scott Jusseaume, M.D., early in the fall to ask how else the Connell School could be of service to the University.

亚色影库 students in isolation housing needed support and wellness checks, so Underwood enlisted her NP students to make twice weekly telehealth check-ins with COVID-positive 亚色影库 students; Underwood would follow up as needed. The telehealth calls began in September and lasted until the week 亚色影库 closed for Christmas, with the CSON grad students contacting some 20-90 students per shift.

鈥淭he 亚色影库 students had a lot of questions and were also dealing with loneliness and anxiety around what the time in isolation would look like,鈥� said Underwood. 鈥淚n addition to checking their symptoms, we were able to provide guidance and education.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 a lovely example of how 亚色影库 people take care of each other. Isolation can be a lonely, scary time for an 18- or 19-year-old. So getting a call from not only a nurse, but a 亚色影库 nurse, can be special,鈥� added Marshall. The group will resume telehealth calls as needed this semester.