IU Northwest Nursing students gain firsthand experience in front line pandemic response through mitigation testing, providing the university with data to quickly respond to COVID-19 cases.
Third and fourth year Nursing Students at Indiana University Northwest, led by faculty at the School of Nursing, began implementing an aggressive mitigation testing program, aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19 and making data about the virus quickly available to administrators as they navigate the balance between in-person and virtual learning options and campus events. IU initiated the testing program in August, publishing data weekly on the IU COVID-19 Testing Dashboard, updated every Wednesday. Mitigation testing is used by IU to identify and isolate anyone who has tested positive for the virus. Through their work at the testing center, IU Northwest nursing students are developing skills in clinical, administrative, and patient relations.
At the forefront of this effort is the need to keep students, faculty, and staff safe. Monitoring and isolating cases is the key to preventing outbreak clusters. As noted in a recent press release, Director of the School of Nursing and interim Dean of the IU Northwest College of Health and Human Services Linda Delunas said, "Above all, the health and safety of our campus community comes first. Without mitigation testing, the university has no way to identify asymptomatic cases before they spread to others." To that end, a testing facility is operating in the Moraine Student Center, capable of testing hundreds of people every week.
Indiana University published a Fall 2020 Operations Guide detailing the multi-faceted approach to dealing with COVID-19. The mitigation testing component of the strategy is a cornerstone of that effort. Indiana University shares mitigation testing data along with symptomatic testing weekly. The data can be viewed for the university as a whole or filtered by campus. According to the weekly briefing published October 28, 2020 for the week of October 18, IU Northwest had one positive out of 207 mitigation tests and no positive tests from symptomatic testing. Testing data from the same week from all campuses shows 92 positive mitigation test results from a total of 11,107 tests administered. During the same period, 38 positive results were found out of 127 symptomatic tests. Those who test positive are asked to isolate. For students who live on campus, there are residential halls designated for people who need to be isolated. Students are advised to monitor their emails closely and cooperate with requests to get tested. The Operations Guide from IU indicates that students can expect to be called in for testing as often as once per week. It also provides a clear set of instructions on testing procedure and cautions that students experiencing symptoms should not show up for mitigation testing and to instead schedule a virtual screening appointment. Indiana University is tracking data from the mitigation screening from all campuses to determine the level of openness of various shared spaces on campuses.
The nursing students tasked with the execution of this plan are gaining real-world experience that will undoubtedly be of use when they graduate and start their careers. Students administering tests are gaining clinical experience in the collection of samples and the following of disease control protocols. They are also honing administrative skills as they coordinate scheduling and keep the testing center supplies adequately stocked. Students then come together after every shift to discuss the success of the day and make plans for improving their processes. In addition to clinical and administrative skills, students are developing their patient communication skills, helping participants overcome anxiety about the testing process. As Linda Delunas noted, "Working directly with people allows the students to practice their communication and trouble-shooting skills. It also helps them make the connection between what they are learning and the important role nurses play in public health efforts."
The current trends in testing data show a slight decline in positivity rates over the last several weeks. Classes are currently still able to meet face to face. Beyond testing, efforts to keep students in class and contain the spread of the virus include mandatory mask wearing in all campus buildings and outside when distancing is not possible, contact tracing (resulting in isolation for positive results and quarantine for close contacts), mandatory flu vaccines, and revised health and safety protocols such as free masks and sanitizing stations. For students experiencing increased financial burdens and mental health crises due to the pandemic, Indiana University has established the Pandemic Health Disparities Fund. At IU Northwest, Marshelia Harris, Program Director for the Bachelor of Social Work Program, was chosen to represent Northwest campus on this committee. Harris is part of an 11 person team that represents all Indiana University campuses. The committee was granted $1 million to assist students, with a focus on helping students from groups that are more likely to experience inequity in accessible health care and financial assistance.