Students have been strongly encouraged to begin clinical experiences as early as Dec. 14.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact nursing education and in response to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s request that nursing programs encourage student engagement in caring for hospitalized COVID-19 patients and in assisting with COVID-19 screenings and vaccines, the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has been strongly encouraging its entry-into-practice students scheduled to graduate in spring 2021 to begin participating in clinical experiences and community/public health rotations as soon as possible, before the Jan. 28 start of the spring 2021 semester.
This voluntary option is being offered to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) master’s option students, as the second large surge of ill COVID-19 patients affects nurse staffing at UMSON’s partner agencies and institutions. With the surge expected to increase over the coming months and continue into spring, causing uncertainty regarding availability of clinical sites, UMSON has provided this option to students to ensure they can participate in and complete their spring 2021 requirements.