News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2020-05-29-nursing
May 29, 2020
From Graduation to the Frontline
For the 60 soon-to-be graduates of the College of the Canyons Registered Nurse Class
of 2020, entry into the world of nursing will be baptism by fire.
After graduating virtually on Wednesday, June 3, many of them will be joining other
nurses and healthcare workers in the frontline battle against coronavirus (COVID-19).
“This semester has been unlike any other,” said Mary Corbett, director of the college’s
nursing program. “For us to be sending 60 graduates into practice, having met all
Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) requirements to sit for the NCLEX licensure examination,
is nothing short of amazing. We are so proud of our students for never giving up through
an incredibly challenging time.”
As coronavirus (COVID-19 cases) began to escalate in communities nationwide, nursing
clinical training programs came to a screeching halt as hospitals began to mobilize
to handle the influx of COVID-19 cases.
Ashley Olivier, a first-year COC nursing student, became understandably worried about
how she would be able to fulfill the nursing clinical hours required by the BRN to
graduate.
“Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the safety of all nursing students being a top priority,
I was concerned how we would finish our clinical hours that are required by the BRN
since local hospitals are not allowing nursing students to perform clinical hours,”
said Olivier.
Fortunately, on April 3 the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) waived restrictions
on nursing student clinical hours, reducing the requirement that clinical hours be
in direct patient care from 75 percent down to 50 percent for nursing students in
obstetrics, pediatrics, and mental health/psychiatric courses.
For nursing students in geriatrics and medical-surgical courses, the waiver allows
up to 50 percent of patient care through simulation or lab training provided that
certain conditions are met. The college’s nursing leadership successfully completed
the requirements to gain the full benefit of the 50 percent waiver for COC students.
The waiver also made it possible for the Nurse Education Consultant (a local BRN representative)
to approve clinical sites through a simplified process, which allows for timely approvals
for programs seeking new settings for clinical instruction.
Calling the waiver the best news she has received in weeks, Olivier now feels optimistic
about the future of her student-nursing experience.
COC’S 177 nursing students are expected to benefit from the DCA waiver, which will
allow a full cohort of 60 students to graduate at the end of the spring 2020 semester
and join the fight against COVID-19.
In response to current conditions, COC nursing faculty designed and launched a telehealth
program focused on providing mental health and self-care support for Canyons Promise
students at the college. Nursing students, who provide information and support utilizing
instructor-developed materials, can count the hours spent providing mental health
services toward the training hours needed for their psychiatric nursing course. Students
are supervised by nursing clinical faculty via Zoom for a virtual clinical experience.
“I’m now able to complete my clinical hours and do it in a way that’s never been done
before in the history of the College of the Canyons nursing program,” said Olivier.
“I am excited to be able to complete my clinical requirements by using my skills I
am learning in my current psychology rotation to help any which way I can in the community
using telehealth.”
COC nursing student Jacob White says gaining the telehealth experience as a student
is priceless.
“To have the ability to use this technology to help our fellow students in our college
is not only helping us nursing students, but also the rest of the college campus,”
said White.
White says he has noticed how college students are eager for follow-up calls and have
become aware of college resources that are available to them.
“To be a nursing student going through their psychology portion during a pandemic
is something you would never expect, but I am proud of our nursing faculty and school's
administration for providing us with this ability,” said White. “This is a big change
toward the future of healthcare and College of the Canyons is clearly fostering it.”
In addition, the more than 80 COC nursing students volunteering at the on-campus COVID-19
testing site can count those hours towards their training requirements and completion.
Fourteen students and one faculty member staff the site, seven days per week, working
with L.A. Country Fire Department personnel in conjunction with leadership from Henry
Mayo Newhall Hospital. On some days, students help conduct more than 300 self-administered
COVID-19 tests at the drive-through site.
“I feel proud to have the opportunity to be a part of a team that can change students’
lives for the better,” said Dr. Kathy Bakhit, Dean of School of Health Professions
and Public Safety at the College.
Bakhit says that the COC nursing program is working hard to identify additional volunteer
opportunities for students to fit course objectives.
“I am inspired by their moral courage, their dedication to the students, and their
attention to the quality of the program,” said Bakhit of the college’s dedicated nursing
faculty.
Bakhit also lauded Chancellor Dr. Dianne Van Hook for her strong leadership and advocacy
toward pushing for the changes.
“Honestly, without her effort and focus where she organized and rallied over 65 other
college presidents and chancellors across the state to elevate the issue and articulate
the changes needed, I am not sure that colleges would have this opportunity we have
today,” said Bakhit.
Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook called the waiver a perfect “example of getting
a barrier out of the way so we can work better, together.”
“I am beyond proud of our nursing faculty and students who refused to give up and
demonstrated incredible grit, courage and ingenuity,” said College of the Canyons
Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook. “I am confident that this experience will make
our students better prepared for the challenging and rewarding profession that is
nursing.”
Corbett noted that the focus of faculty has remained on student safety and success.
“Because of the leadership and individual care provided by innovative professors,
and because of the support of so many on campus and beyond, we are moving forward
to a successful completion of the semester,” said Corbett. “We could not be more pleased.”
Chancellor Dr. Dianne G Van Hook will be addressing the nursing graduates during the
virtual graduation on June 3. Director Corbett, faculty, and graduating students will
also be speaking.
“Students are looking forward to sharing this special time with their loved ones,”
said Corbett.
On Saturday, June 6, nursing graduates will receive their COC nursing pin and certificate
of graduation at a special drive-thru event at the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University
Center.
Organized by COC Professor Shaunasey Lane and student, the event will allow graduates
to take photos with a guest and nursing faculty in a socially distant manner.