12 Resources for Nurses on the Frontlines of COVID-19

Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard from nurses and leaders of national nurses organizations about the critical challenges nurses and other health workers on the frontlines of COVID-19 are facing, such as a dwindling inventory of personal protective equipment (PPE), a need for proper PPE training, concerns over nurse burnout and uncertainty about the nature of this virus. They’ve also expressed the need for credible, easy-to-access resources that can help equip nurses to overcome these challenges. 

While many nurse and health organizations around the world have mobilized their resources and experts to create toolkits and guidance that can help inform, protect and support the integral health workers on the frontlines of COVID-19, I’m sure that many of you haven’t had the time to search them out.

While not an exhaustive list, I thought I would share a few of them with you today that I have come across, which include where to find real-time updates, best practices and guidance, mental health and resilience resources and free online training modules. I hope the wide range of information they have to offer is helpful for you and your teams.

Real-Time Updates

• The World Health Organization (WHO) is providing live updates on COVID-19 from around the world, as well as travel advice, developments in research and clinical trials and a list of answers to popular questions about the novel coronavirus.

Best Practices and Guidance

• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has put together a comprehensive guide on how to protect yourself from COVID-19 and what to do if you think you are sick. They have also created special guidance for various health settings, a PPE Burn Rate Calculator, guidance on how to minimize risk and a preparedness checklist for healthcare providers.
• The Johnson & Johnson Institute, which educates 210,000 healthcare providers each year, has expanded its collaboration with Advances in Surgery to help provide the latest information about COVID-19 to nurses, surgeons and other healthcare providers. The AIS resources, available for free through the Johnson & Johnson Institute online platform, is updated in real-time with the latest news and provides critical virtual training for COVID-19 care, such as an online mechanical ventilation course. There's also a 24-hour chat forum for healthcare providers who have urgent questions.
• The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) has compiled a full list of resources for hospital preparedness, reducing infection, navigating supply shortages, self-care strategies and more. They have also created a COVID-19 Support page that includes modules on cleaning the OR, hand washing, donning and doffing PPE.
• The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) has compiled a guide with general information around the novel coronavirus, PPE safety information, resources for patient care and nursing practice guidance.
• The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) has compiled a list of resources that include practice guidelines, some specifically for mothers and their newborns at-risk for COVID-19, as well as self-care resources.

Mental Health and Resilience

• The mental and physical toll this crisis is having on frontline health workers is rapidly becoming an epidemic in itself – the current pandemic response demonstrates the essential, tireless, innovative and too-often undervalued role of health workers in ensuring strong, resilient health systems. That’s why – as part of Johnson & Johnson’s commitment to health workers through the Center for Health Worker Innovation – we have joined First Responders First, an initiative to support and sustain the health and well-being of frontline workers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the days to come. First Responders First will provide evidence-based content, tools and resources specifically designed to improve the resilience and well-being needs of frontline health workers and their leaders in times of crisis, recovery and rebuilding. Visit the resources section of the First Responders First site to learn more.
• During this unprecedented time of fear and stress, nurses are at high risk for mental health issues like anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress. The American Nurses Association (ANA), through their Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation platform, have created a mental health guide with articles, advice and hotlines for nurses and their employers.
• The American Psychiatric Nurse Association (APNA) is offering COVID-19 nurses' mental health resources for psychiatric-mental health nurses, which also includes current information, policy updates and self-care tips.

Supporting the Nursing Community

• The American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) has been sharing positive stories from healthcare professionals on the frontlines of the coronavirus, and is calling on more health workers to share their story.

Free Online Training

• Nurse.com is offering a free COVID-19 course to help nurses stay apprised of new information and take advantage of education resources. This course is being offered courtesy of Nurse.com and Relias until September 17, 2020 and takes less than three hours to complete. You can take the online course here.
• IntelyCare is offering free COVID-19 nurse training certification in a new interactive course, which can also be done on mobile, to help educate nurses on the latest practices and expectations in treatment and prevention.

I hope that this list is helpful for you and nurses in your network. I will continue to keep an eye out for resources and update this list with new information as it becomes available! 

On behalf of Johnson & Johnson, thank you to all nurses and frontline health workers around the world who are working in this health crisis. Please know that we will never stop listening to your needs and supporting you, just as we have done for over 120 years.