AONL Policy Brief: Supporting Academic-Practice Partnerships to Assist the Nursing Workforce During the COVID-19 Crisis

AONL joins seven other nursing organizations in endorsing a collaborative effort to propose and support academic-practice partnerships between health care facilities and pre-licensure registered nursing (RN) and practical/vocational nursing (PN/VN) programs across the country during the COVID-19 crisis.

This opportunity will not only provide much needed clinical education to assist in meeting program requirements, it is an unparalleled opportunity for nursing students to assist the nation in a time of crisis and learn the principles of population health and emergency management.

Health care facilities and nursing education programs are encouraged to partner during the COVID-19 crisis.
Pre-licensure RN students from diploma, associate degree and baccalaureate degree nursing programs and PN/VN students from certificate nursing programs could augment and support nursing services in health care facilities.
Nursing students would be employed by the facility on a full- or part-time basis and would work in the role of a student nurse for compensation and, in conjunction with the student’s nursing education program, would receive academic credit toward meeting clinical requirements.
Nursing students would be required to be enrolled in a State Board of Nursing approved (or it's equivalent) RN or PN/VN pre-licensure program.