By Stephanie Swart, Photo Editor—
Despite the adjustment of online classes and Covid-19 safety protocols, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s School of Nursing continues to make the most of the situation for their students.
UTC’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students learn both in the classroom and in the field during clinical rotations. There are five levels to complete for the duration of the bachelors program, and each level requires the passing of multiple checkoffs along with exams.
The classroom experience involves the traditional learning environment as well as simulation labs. The labs are located in the Metropolitan Building on campus and are designed to simulate the setting of a hospital. Nursing students are able to prepare for their clinical duties in hospitals by completing checkoffs. Checkoffs involve the demonstration of certain skills on mannequin patients as professors observe through a one way window. The students must execute the skills without mistakes in order to pass the checkoffs.
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Level four nursing students Daniel Dawson (left) and Grace Barbee (right) read over their checkoff sheet for their mannequin patient in a lab simulation room as they prepare for their upcoming medicine distribution check off. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
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Hospital beds line the wall in the main lab simulation room. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
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A mannequin lays in a hospital bed in one of the simulation labs. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
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Level four nursing students Madison Wilson (left) and Hadyn Wilson (right) attend to their mannequin patient in a simulation lab as they prepare for their upcoming medicine distribution check off. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
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A no-contact thermometer, Covid-19 move-in forms, hand sanitizer and personal protective equipment reside on a table at the entrance of the Learning Resource Lab in the Metropolitan Building. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
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A no-contact thermometer, Covid-19 move-in forms, hand sanitizer and personal protective equipment reside on a table at the entrance of the Learning Resource Lab in the Metropolitan Building. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
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Nursing students reference the “Drug Guide” book as they prepare for an upcoming medication administration check off in the simulation labs. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
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Hadyn Wilson, level four nursing student, asks her mannequin patient medical information questions in preparation for an upcoming medication administration check off in a simulation lab. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
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Hadyn Wilson, level four nursing student, reads over her mannequin patient’s medical worksheet as she prepares for an upcoming medication administration check off in a simulation lab. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
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Grace Barbee, level four nursing student, reads the medicine label prescribed to her mannequin patient in the lab simulation as she prepares for the upcoming medication administration check off. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
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Grace Barbee, level four nursing student, reads the medicine worksheet for her mannequin patient in the lab simulation as she prepares for the upcoming medication administration check off. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
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A mannequin lays in a hospital bed in one of the simulation labs. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
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A sign explaining campus Covid-10 tips hangs in one of the simulation labs. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
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A mannequin lays in a hospital bed in one of the simulation labs. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
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A simulation lab mannequin lays in a hospital bed with an IV in its arm wearing a hospital bracelet. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
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Medical grade gloves line the shelves in the nursing simulation lab. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
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Madison Wilson, level four nursing student, administers medicine to her mannequin patient in the lab simulation as she practices for her upcoming medication administration check off. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
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The UTC School of Nursing resides in the Metropolitan Building on campus. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
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Hadyn Wilson, level four nursing student, reads over her mannequin patient’s medical worksheet as she prepares for an upcoming medication administration check off in a simulation lab. The UTC nursing program has adjusted to the pandemic protocols and allowed its students to be better prepared for the medical field. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Swart)
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the UTC nursing students have been able to safely continue their preparation for working in the medical field. Personal protective equipment is nothing new for nursing students, and level four nursing student, Cassetty Parrish, feels that the pandemic has led to her being more prepared for her future professional pursuits.
“Covid has not changed my clinicals besides requiring us to wear more personal protective equipment,” Parrish explained. “Pursuing my nursing degree during covid has helped me prepare for the medical field by preparing me for pandemics, but it has been harder to learn the subjects virtually. I feel like I took in-person classes for granted.”
The most recent and final checkoff for level four students was medication administration. This involved working with a mannequin patient whose medication had an error. It was the student’s responsibility to catch the error, educate their patient on their medications and monitor their labs and vital signs.
As the status of the pandemic evolves, so will the UTC School of Nursing.