Update for School of Nursing students, faculty and staff from Dean Tara Hulsey

Today is the first day of our 'new normal' as we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.

This may be the first time you have taken a nursing course online and it might feel counterintuitive because nursing is such a hands-on, face-to-face profession. But with technology, such as telemedicine, we can provide quality care remotely if necessary, and the same goes for nursing instruction.

I am sure many of you are nervous about how the rest of this semester is going to evolve, and for our seniors, I know it is incredibly disheartening that your final semester is going to be completed online. As I have said before, we are committed to providing you with the highest level of training to help you become the best nurses you can be regardless if it is by in-person classes or online.

You may be wondering why we are starting classes today and not next week with the rest of the University. It is simple: we were ready. The School of Nursing has been prepared to provide online instruction for quite some time and it wasn't necessary for us to wait another week. We've been ready to hit the ground running - just like nurses do every day.

It is important now more than ever that you communicate with your instructors because you are working remotely. If you are having challenges of any kind, please let them know. In addition, WVU is offering online tutoring support and has eased renewal scholarship requirements.

Be sure you take care of yourselves - get enough sleep, get some exercise and eat healthy foods.

Nurses are resilient and have shown their grit and determination time and time again in the face of adversity. Together, we can get through this challenge.

Dean Hulsey

WVU School of Nursing