Page 9 - MGATODAY_Spring_2021

#ArmorUp, a reference to MGa Knights, was part of the a few of MGa’s respiratory therapy students this spring taking prac-
University’s awareness campaign to encourage the practice tice tests in preparation for their credentialing exams. a year ago,
of pandemic-related health and safety measures. the pandemic interrupted exam prep for juniors in the rt program.

Students who were juniors that spring were Before COVID, the Georgia Board of Nurs-
training in the use of mechanical ventilators. ing prohibited nursing courses from being taught
But early in the pandemic, MGA was among the completely online. As universities transitioned to
state’s colleges and universities that loaned its fully online in the spring, the board relaxed that
mechanical ventilators to the Georgia Emergency rule so that some instruction in certain non-lab
Management Agency (GEMA). courses could take place online.
With no equipment for the labs, the juniors MGA’s advanced nursing students, however,
had to take incomplete grades. But faculty still had to complete clinical hours in clinical
members rearranged the degree program’s settings – mostly hospitals. They were given the
curriculum so the students could make up the option of taking incompletes until the pandemic
instruction the following fall (by then GEMA had eased but all chose to continue their clinical work.
returned the equipment and MGA added to that “I think most of them feel nursing is their
by buying two more ventilators) and into this calling and that they needed to be there,” said
spring. Dr. Donna Ingram, chair of the Department of
“Our faculty went above and beyond to make Nursing. “Some did kind of teeter on it, not for
sure our students could graduate on time,” Miller themselves but because they worried about expos-
said. “And our students showed such adaptability. ing their families. But they decided that their
In their clinical work (in area healthcare facili- clinical work would place them in the best situa-
ties) they aren’t allowed to work directly with tion to learn the proper way to deal with infection
COVID patients but they can work with patients control and other issues related to a pandemic.”
who are dealing with post-COVID issues. I think With the return of in-person classes last
their experience of working in respiratory therapy August, MGA’s nursing department began
during such a time has given them a more holistic screening students for COVID symptoms
view about the impact they can have on patient before every lab session.
care.”

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