Published August 05, 2020 
Weekly Digest
Posted July 30, 2020 on STAT, a news outlet focused on health, medicine, and scientific discovery, assistant professor Kristen Choi and doctoral student Anna Dermenchyan from the UCLA School of Nursing published a new article titled The Nursing Science Behind Nurses as Coronavirus Hospital Heroes. The authors describe how nurse scientists are responding in full force to the pandemic and the impact they are having. “Nursing science can offer patient-centered interventions and whole-person care that go beyond disease treatment alone. This type of holistic care matters for achieving positive patient experiences, but also favorable health outcomes.”
On July 28, 2020, the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Countering the U.S. Opioid Epidemic (which includes AACN) released Priorities and Strategies to Preserve the Health and Well-Being of Individuals with Substance Use Disorders and Chronic Pain during COVID-19. Given that individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) are among the most at risk for COVID-19, the Collaborative’s Steering Committee identified priorities and strategies for providers, health systems, researchers, policymakers, regulators, and health leaders to preserve the health and well-being of individuals with SUD and chronic pain.

AACN Updates
2020 Academic Nursing Leadership Conference to be a Month-Long Virtual Experience
AACN Establishes New Task Force for Research-Focused Doctoral Program Pathways to Excellence
National Call to Action for Nurse Faculty Recognition
CCNE Constituents Elect New Board and Nominating Committee Members
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing's Amplify Nursing Podcast Showcases the Impact of Nurses
For the past 50 years, Dr. Ann Burgess has been committed to her work for victims of violent crime. Dr. Burgess, who is also a researcher and educator at Boston College, recently shared her experiences working with the FBI, the value of nursing research, and her upcoming book, Shattering Silence on the Amplify Nursing podcast. Listen here.
MGH Nurses Send Meals to Fellow Nurses in Arizona and Florida
A group of Massachusetts General Hospital nurses received an outpouring of support during the region’s worst coronavirus outbreak. Now they are paying that kindness forward by sending meals to nurses in some of the areas currently hardest hit by the pandemic. Read this uplifting story here.


Washington Weekly
Inside this edition of Washington Weekly: BREAKING NEWS: Congress Introduces Legislation Investing in Nursing Education and Infrastructure; COVID-19 Legislative and Policy Update; and FY 2021 LHHS-ED Appropriations Bill Passes in Minibus Spending Package.
Read AACN's Washington Weekly >>
Member News & Announcements
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Dr. Elias Provencio-Vasquez, dean at the University of Colorado College of Nursing, was recently appointed to a four-year term to the National Advisory Council on Nursing Research, a federal advisory council to the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Provencio-Vasquez is one of 15 members on the Council to advise, assist, and consult with the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Read more >>
- Dr. Susan Gennaro, dean and professor at the Boston College Connell School of Nursing, has announced she will step down as dean at the end of the 2020-21 academic year. Dr. Gennaro, an internationally respected nurse researcher who has led the school since 2008, will remain on the Connell School faculty. Read more >>
Coronavirus Resources for Nurse Educators

To support the information needs of nursing school deans, faculty, students, and other stakeholders, AACN has developed a resource center to highlight key information sources found on the Web regarding COVID-19. This section will be updated regularly 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.
See Past Issues of AACN News Watch