As Dominican University prepares to reopen on August 31 for a hybrid model, many students expressed concerns over in-person courses. Among those most affected by the hybrid model are Physicians Assistants and Nursing students.
On August 18, the Founding Dean of Borra College of Health Sciences (BCHS) Kavita R. Dhanwada addresses the PA and Nursing student concerns via email to the Dominican Star.
Dhanwada said that nursing and physician assistant studies students will not be put into any COVID-19 units in the hospitals for their clinical. Nursing students must follow guidelines to wear Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) provided by the hospital or the university.
Dhanwada also mentioned that potential exposure to health care professionals is comparable to that of the community, according to Center for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC).
Dhanwada cited CDC for Healthcare Professionals (HCP) for guidance. This guide states that if healthcare professionals come in contact with COVID-19 patients for 15 minutes without protective equipment, they are considered exposed to the virus.
When asked about the COVID-19 tests for PA/Nursing students, Dhanwada said, “If potential exposure happened outside of the clinical experience, these students, like all other DU students, will be responsible to self-monitor, do thermographic screenings, and submit information on the #Campus Clear App and follow up with SSE [Student Success and Engagement] advisors”. If the exposure to COVID-19 happens in the hospital, the student will be tested there.
BCHS is also discussing regular tests for students who are entering hospitals and alternative internship placement, according to Dhanwada.
COVID-19 test access, frequency of tests taken, number of students to be tested, and time for the tests prior to the exposure are all factors for the COVID-19 test decisions, according to Dhanwada.
A regular monitoring of COVID-19 is not yet in place. BCHS only asks students for a negative test before entering the hospital, but the students are not tested after the clinical unless he or she is potentially exposed.
As a note for COVID-19 testing availability, Dhanwada said that SSE Vice President Barrington Price is collaborating with other universities for diagnostic test access.
Starting August 25, the university will provide free on-site testing for students, staff and faculty are exposed to COVID-19, symptomatic, or part of the contact tracing protocol.
