Multispecialty Nursing During COVID-19:: Lessons Learned in Southern California

Abstract

A multispecialty nursing team plays a crucial role in key decision making, education, prevention, screening, assessment, diagnosis, management, data collection and dissemination of best practices during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Using examples from a large, tertiary medical center in Los Angeles, this paper highlights contributions made by multispecialty nursing specialties to optimize health and safety for patients and frontline health care workers. Recognizing nurses' ongoing critical role encourages and informs further collaboration and serves as a catalyst to innovation for a healthier tomorrow. The result of the COVID-19 pandemic will be felt for years to come.

Figure 1

Nurse Practitioner Clinical Model for Providing COVID-19 Management. ED, emergency department; PUI, patient under investigation; RT-PCR, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Figure 2

Shortness of Breath Screening Tool.