Davenport University nursing student builds critical skills through contact tracing

Nursing students at Davenport University were preparing last year for their summer externships when the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to their plans. Many were prepared to work at the Wyoming Veteran's Affairs Outpatient Clinic to gain the required experience needed to start careers in nursing. As shutdowns were put in place, they found themselves scrambling to find new ways of getting the opportunity to interact with patients and hone their skills. Some of them were able to find what they needed by working for the Kent County Health Department conducting contact tracing.

Contact tracing is a method of tracking the spread of infectious diseases by communicating with patients who have contracted a disease (in this case COVID-19), and finding out who they have had close contact with in the time leading up to diagnosis. Those people who had close contact are contacted and advised to isolate themselves and told what to do if they start experiencing symptoms. When it became clear that COVID-19 was spreading rapidly through the community, officials at the Kent County Health Department began recruiting for contact tracers. 

As described in a news release from Davenport University, officials from the health department reached out to the university to find people to fill those contact tracing roles. Heather Hunt, registered nurse in primary care (RNPC) grant coordinator at Davenport assured the health department that she definitely had the people. Due to most externship opportunities being put on hold, Hunt had nursing students eager to help. The opportunity with the health department provided a mutually beneficial arrangement. As Hunt said, "This is a part of a nurse's role. We need to do our part in public health within the community to make a positive impact. For the students to be involved in their community and to help decrease the spread of COVID — not only are they learning about it, but they are also doing it. And that is important."

One RNPC student who took advantage of the opportunity was Courtney McInerney. She explained how the experience taught her about patient care, "Through these calls, I learned to communicate with patients by using terms that could be understood and invited questions to be asked. While these skills were specific to contact tracing, they will be valuable in my future practice. In learning the process of contact tracing, I also learned how it can decrease the exposure and spread of the virus in the community."

McInerney went on to describe the soft skills she developed through her time as a contact tracer, "Sensitivity is a skill that I learned and will take with me in my future career. Having empathy for the client's feelings and providing comfort during challenging times are important skills to have as a healthcare provider. Through speaking to individuals and answering questions, I was able to practice and improve these skills."