Published May 27, 2020 
Rounds with Leadership: Investing in the Future of Academic Nursing
Since the first days of the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing deans and faculty have shown incredible leadership, resourcefulness, and compassion. Across the nation, we have received numerous reports detailing how these leaders have successfully adapted their programs to ensure that nursing students can continue their education and enter the workforce where their skills are greatly needed.
In recognition of her work to support the next generation of nursing leaders, AACN would like to extend its sincere gratitude to philanthropist Darlene Curley for initiating the COVID-19 Nursing Student Support Fund. This much-needed program, which is administered by AACN's Foundation for Academic Nursing, has brought a measure of financial relief to nursing students in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. Ms. Curley's generous donation has inspired almost two dozen additional individuals and organizations to contribute funding to this critical initiative.
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Weekly Digest
On May 12, Dr. Eileen Breslin, dean of UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing and former Chair of the AACN Board of Directors (2014-2016), published a new commentary in the San Antonio Express News titled Nurses Rise to the Challenge of COVID-19. In addition to describing her school's efforts to activate its continuity plans to sustain nursing education and research, Dr. Breslin issued this call to action: "As we see our faculty, students, and staff respond to this crisis with passion and purpose, we remain convinced that we will continue responding to the needs of our community with the pioneering spirit that generations of nurses before us have faced. To all nurses on the front lines right now, "You've got this. It's who you are. You are a nurse."
On May 20, Mikela Lea with
HealthTech Magazine published a new article titled
How Virtual Training Is Set to Change Nursing Education. The author describes how academic nursing's response to COVID-19 has underscored the value of high-tech tools that supplement hands-on clinical experiences and how nursing instructors are leading the charge when it comes to adopting new educational technologies, often outpacing those in medical and general education.
AACN Updates
AACN Nominee Dr. Betty Rambur Appointed to Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
AACN and NLN Leadership to Host COVID-19 Webinar this Friday, May 29
JPN Editor Develops Open Course on "Writing for Professional Journals"
Johnson & Johnson Nursing Explores the Road to a Vaccine
Johnson & Johnson Nursing recently launched an eight-episode educational video series examining the efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and the process of developing a vaccine. In the most recent episode, leading scientific experts discuss the latest in the global quest to develop a COVID-19 vaccine and what our "new normal" could look like. Learn more and watch this episode here.
Washington Weekly
Inside this edition of Washington Weekly: In honor of our service members, urge Congress to cosponsor and pass the United States Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act (H.R. 2056/S. 997).
Read AACN's Washington Weekly >>
To support the information needs of nursing school deans, faculty, students, and other stakeholders, AACN has developed this resource center to highlight key information sources about the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) found on the web. This section will be updated weekly to include details about new informational events and webinars, the latest news from the CDC, educational events and webinars, and work underway at our nation's nursing schools to raise awareness on prevention and preparedness efforts.