FNINR Recognition of Nurse Scientists on the Frontline of COVID-19

Our nation has become increasingly dependent on the expertise and dedication of our healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and AMR is proud to represent so many healthcare associations. One of AMR’s newest client partners, The Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research, has a mission to provide resources to support nursing research and advance the mission of the NINR.

FNINR supports the work nurse scientists do every day, and this work and mission feel especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research done by nurses and nurse scientists is crucial to battling the novel coronavirus and providing the best healthcare to patients as is possible.

To shed light on some of the nurse scientist heroes on the nation’s front lines, FNINR reached out to the nurse scientist community and asked for the stories of nurse scientists fighting to contain and eliminate COVID-19. We were blown away by the multiple stories pouring in from nurse researchers across the country. We have begun highlighting these courageous individuals and their teams. Some of those stories include:

• Shanina Knighton, from Case Western Reserve University, is using science to advocate for, develop, and implement infection prevention polices.
• Ellen Smithline, from University of Massachusetts, helps develop effective personal protective equipment (PPE) compliant face shields.
• Jane Muir, from University of Virginia Health, is a second year PhD nursing student studying nurse burnout in the emergency department.

Other nurse researcher stories include: ethical challenges on the frontline; the care of nursing home residents; and long-term social effects of the pandemic. You can view all of the stories shared thus far and in the future on the FNINR website.

It is FNINR’s hope that in sharing these messages, we can continue to educate policy makers and the public about the important role of nurse scientists and, more importantly, spread hope for our country that our best and brightest are fighting this pandemic with all they have.