What To Know

At the George Washington University School of Nursing we offer in-person and online learning experiences for our students. Whether you’re new to the school or returning to us this semester, we want to make sure that you have the information you need to complete your studies here. All information provided on this website is specific to GW Nursing students, for University-wide updates please refer to gwu.edu.
 

Student Requirements
 

GW Campus Commitment
& COVID-19 Training

We expect all GW Nursing students to adhere to the GW Campus Commitment and require that they complete a training prior to the start of the semester to demonstrate and acknowledge their shared responsibility as a member of our on-campus community.

Accelerated B.S.N.
PPE Module

It is important that all students are familiar with the correct order and procedure for donning and doffing PPE. To ensure everyone’s safety, all Accelerated B.S.N. students are required to complete the PPE module with at least a 90% score prior to the start of the semester.

Student POLICIES
 

Dress Code & Uniforms

Nursing students represent the University as well as GW Nursing. Appearance must conform to the highest standards of cleanliness, professionalism and safety.

Student Handbooks

Nursing students may refer to the Undergraduate or Graduate Student Handbook for information on policies and requirements.

Student Guidelines
 

Didactic Guidelines

Academic Calendar

Accelerated B.S.N. Students
Didactic instruction as well as lab, simulation and clinical education for Accelerated B.S.N. students will start as scheduled. We are preparing for all classes, labs and simulations to incorporate the flexibility necessary for students this semester while still making uninterrupted progress toward degree completion. All face-to-face simulation and lab education will take place on the VSTC Campus. Learners and instructional personnel must wear procedural or cloth masks when in the buildings. When in close contact with classmates, students and faculty will wear a surgical/procedural face mask. Cleaning of equipment between users and at the end of the day will be done according to CDC guidelines, as well as recommendations from the manufacturers of medical equipment and manikins.

RN-BSN Students
Classes will start as scheduled and online, as designed.

Graduate Students
Graduate students will be on campus for OSCE. Learners and instructional personnel must wear procedural or cloth masks when in the buildings. When in close contact with classmates, students and faculty will wear a surgical/procedural face mask. Cleaning of equipment between users and at the end of the day will be done according to CDC guidelines, as well as recommendations from the manufacturers of medical equipment and manikins. All other graduate nursing programs will not travel to the VSTC campus, but will receive virtual and telehealth simulation experiences to augment their online programs.

Ph.D. Students
Ph.D. students will be on campus for Weekend Intensives. Please refer to the academic calendar for dates.

View Academic Calendar>

Class Layout/Attendance

Accelerated B.S.N. Students
Didactic instruction for the Accelerated B.S.N. program will be delivered. Please refer to the class schedule for course meeting times. 

Exam Policy

All testing will take place using Exam Soft and Examplify. While testing, students are expected to follow the guidelines in the GW Testing and Examination Policy. 

How to Download and Use Examplify >

Lab/Simulation Guidelines

Lab/Simulation Layout And Attendance

Lab and simulation for the semester will include both synchronous, in-person and virtual components. Attendance for synchronous, in-person lab/simulation is required. For more information about the virtual components of each activity, please see the course syllabus.

PPE Policy

Note - PPE will not be provided for graduate students

PPE Requirements for Lab and Simulation

In order to safely conduct our activities, all students will be expected to abide by enhanced PPE requirements while in the Simulation and Innovation Learning Center environment. Any needed PPE for lab/simulation activities will be provided by GW Nursing. Please see the specifics for each lab below.

NURS 3120: Foundations Skills Lab

Only students in compliance with COVID-19 testing requirements or who are fully vaccinated are permitted in the lab.  During the Health Assessment lab session, students will be in pairs participating in both the "nurse" and "patient" roles to practice assessment skills. Upon entering the skills lab, students will be expected to clean the work station with disinfectant provided. When students are participating as the "nurse": While in the lab environment, students will be required to wear their face surgical/procedural mask and gloves. 
 

NURS 3121: Health Assessment and Promotion 

While in the lab environment, students will be required to wear a surgical/procedural mask at all times. Upon entering the Lab space, students will be expected to clean their assigned exam room with the disinfectant provided. Upon completion of the labs, students will be expected to clean their exam rooms with the disinfectant provided.

• When students are participating as the "patient": Students will be required to wear their surgical/procedural mask. 
• Students are required to wear a face mask at all times. When practicing assessment skills requiring access to the head, eyes, nose, mouth, and throat, students acting as the patient can temporarily remove the mask so the "nurse" can access these areas, however, students should immediately put the PPE back on.
• Upon completion of the Health Assessment class, students will be expected to clean the exam rooms with the disinfectants provided and clean their face shields for re-use as indicated.

Lab Coordinators

NURS 3121: Health Assessment and Promotion
Whitney Shanley ([email protected])

NURS 3120: Foundations
Julia Clarke ([email protected])

Director of Simulation and Experiential Learning
Crystel Farina ([email protected])

Clinical Guidelines

Clinical Safety Environment

Undergraduate/Accelerated B.S.N. Students
Beyond on-campus learning, accelerated B.S.N. students will be placed individually at clinical sites as well as in clinical groups of up to 8 students. Clinical sites set limits on the number of students in clinical groups. In direct patient/client care activities, students and their instructors will not be able to maintain physical distance. Students and instructors will, however, wear the PPE appropriate to the clinical experience. In other hospital units, where known COVID19 patients are not treated, the standard would be surgical/ procedural face masks with eye protection (goggles or face shield) when near the patient’s respiratory droplets. Students in a medical office will wear the PPE worn by the other health care providers, which may consist of a surgical/ procedural facemask when examining or treating patients and a cloth face mask at all other times.

GW Nursing has purchased or has on order, face shields Accelerated B.S.N. students and clinical instructors that wish to be fitted for an N-95 mask, may have that option by contacting the Director of Simulation and Experiential Learning, to set up an appointment for the fit testing.

Graduate Students
GW Nursing online graduate programs with students in other states will continue to place students as permitted by clinical site.

Clinical Safety Practices

Safety Guidelines for the Clinical Environment

During the semester, students and faculty in the GW School of Nursing will be entering healthcare facilities with both suspected and positive cases of COVID-19. In addition to the normal standards for clinical dress, please implement the following guidelines to reduce the possibility of contracting COVID-19.

Before for Clinical

• If you typically wear jewelry, a watch, or other nonessential accessories, leave them at home.
• If you have medium or long hair, wear it pulled back.
• If you wear contacts, consider wearing glasses to decrease the need to touch your face and to offer a barrier.
• Prepare clean clothes and shoes to change into after work.
• Remove nonessential items in your car, and stock the car with disinfecting wipes to make it easy to wipe down key surfaces after traveling home.
• If taking mass transit, have hand sanitizer available and use it after touching any surfaces.

During Clinical

• Follow the screening and PPE protocols of the institution.
• Limit the items that you bring with you to clinical to the absolute minimum.
• Disinfect your personal items regularly.
• Perform hand hygiene after touching frequently used objects and surfaces.
• Avoid handshakes and high-fives.
• Practice social distancing to the best of your ability

After Clinical

• Change in an isolated location (e.g., garage, mudroom, laundry room).
• Do not wear shoes from work into your home.Clean them, top and bottom, with disinfecting wipes.
• Wash clothes worn at work using your usual laundry detergent.
• Wash or safely discard dirty clothes bag.
• Wash hands after handling dirty clothes and shoes.
• Shower before interacting with your family.

CPR Certification

Accelerated B.S.N. Students
The Accelerated B.S.N. program will accept ONLY the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (2-year certification). Students must be trained in adult, child, and infant CPR and have automatic electronic defibrillator (AED) training. CPR cards must be uploaded to the CastleBranch Immunization Tracker. Please make sure that you are up to date before starting the semester.

CastleBranch Deadlines

The deadline for submission of your CastleBranch requirements for each Cohort is as follows:

• Cohort 27: 10/31/21
• Cohort 28: 02/01/22
• Cohort 29: 07/30/22

You must ensure that all of your clinical requirements in CastleBranch are complete and will not expire during the course of the semester. Please contact the CastleBranch Help Desk directly at (888-850-4314) for assistance with uploading any documentation or to purchase your appropriate tracker.

All items in CastleBranch must be complete and up to date for the duration of each semester. 

Please note: Failure to complete this on time will result in not being able to start your clinical rotation on time.   

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Clinical Placement Team at [email protected] for further assistance and clarification.

Clinical Sites

For ALL clinical sites:

Clinical Incident Report Form
The Clinical Incident Report Form is intended for clinical incidents ONLY. In the event of an accident resulting in personal injury or if an incident may have resulted in an injury while out on clinical, please complete the form and send to [email protected].

Clinical Incident Report

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List of clinical sites:

• Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC)
• George Washington University Hospital (GWUH)
• HCA Facilities
• Inova Facilities
• MedStar WHC
• Psych Institute of Washington (PIW)
• Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VAMC)
• Virginia Hospital Center (VHC)
• Walter Reed

Clinical Screening/PPE Policies by Site

Note - PPE will not be provided for graduate students

Please click the link to the clinical site below to view the site-specific COVID-19 Screening and PPE Policies:

HCA Facilities Inova Facilities Virginia Hospital Center (VHC)

Clinical Make-up in the Event of Illness

Each of our courses have built-in contingency plans in the case of serious illness so that we can help our students continue to progress through the program. Please note that while these plans are in place, long-term illness that results in an inability to complete clinical could cause a disruption to progression. 

Clinical Coordinators

NURS 3124: Adult and Geriatric Nursing 1 Clinical
Michelle Rumble ([email protected])
Billy Mullins ([email protected]) 

NURS 4124: Adult and Geriatric Nursing 2 Clinical
Nicole Gendron-Trainer (n[email protected]) 

NURS 3125: Mental Health Nursing
Billy Mullins ([email protected]) 

NURS 4125: Maternal and Women's Health Nursing
Linda Cassar ([email protected]) 

NURS 4116: Nursing Care of Children and Families
Kristen Stevens ([email protected]) 

NURS 4217: Community and Public Health Nursing
Karen Dawn ([email protected]) 

NURS 4127: Transition to Professional Nursing
Whitney Shanley ([email protected])

Student Resources