Page 31 - Johns Hopkins Nursing Magazine Fall 2020 - Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

Professor Jason Farley has brought his experience on HIV,

TB, and other epidemics to the fight against COVID-19.

It would be hard to find anyone who instinct is to save the
is completely prepared when an patient,” Pandian NEWS FROM JOHNS HOPKINS NURSING
unknown virus suddenly triggers explains. “While we
a global pandemic. But even in the would never want to
scramble that followed the early 2020 squelch that instinct,
global outbreak of COVID-19, there absolute care must
were several nurse leaders at the be taken to protect
Johns Hopkins School of Nursing health care workers
(JHSON) perfectly positioned—by who might otherwise
experience, by training, by research, throw caution aside.”
by their nature—to step out front and
begin making a crucial difference in Pandian is lead
saving lives and slowing the spread. author of the recent
publication “Critical
— Care Guidance for
Tracheostomy Care
As the first waves of COVID infection During the COVID-19
rolled across in the United States, Pandemic: A Global,
the desperate need for artificial Multidisciplinary
ventilators quickly became clear. Approach” in the American Journal of illness or emergency that might
They might be all that could save the Critical Care. “What we need to do is result in intubation. The things
sickest patients, and there weren’t find a way to make sure that essential we are learning out of necessity
28 nearly enough of them available. caution becomes second nature, so today will improve procedures and 29
What wasn’t yet fully understood was the procedure is performed more techniques—and thus quality of life
for our patients—forever.”
“For nurses and other caregivers, the —

Before the pandemic, Professor
first instinct is to save the patient.” Jason Farley, PhD, MSN, MPH,
FAAN, an infectious disease-trained
nurse epidemiologist and a nurse
practitioner, was embarking on the
how hooking up patients, a tricky confidently—and thus more quickly first fully telehealth-based study
procedure without proper training— and efficiently—to save more patients approved at Johns Hopkins, evaluating
JOHNS HOPKINS NURSING FALL/WINTER 2020
combined with the danger of an without putting our own lives in at-home treatment for sexually
aerosolized virus—could make things danger.” transmitted diseases including HIV/
deadly for providers. AIDS. At the time, he says, the concept
Thus, the protocols put forward by of all-remote care seemed avant-garde.
Associate Professor Vinciya Pandian's team of researchers, from “It really felt like we were pushing the
Pandian, PhD, MBA, MSN, FAAN, the size and type of tracheostomy envelope,” says Farley, who adds that
a global expert on tracheostomy tube to the personal protective his infectious disease practice is now
and intubation of patients, closely equipment (PPE) mandatory to 90 percent telehealth.
followed the trajectory of caregiver safeguard health workers. “This
infections and immediately brought pandemic presents an incredible It’s but one advance championed MAGAZINE.NURSING.JHU.EDU
together a team to educate health challenge,” she says. “But the by Farley, who has become a key
care groups across the world and essential role played by ventilators national spokesman on scientific
begin turning the tide. “For nurses is also an opportunity for caregivers and common-sense approaches to
and other caregivers, the first and researchers focused on any COVID-19, has trained caregivers