TITLE:
The COVID-19 Pandemic and Higher Education: Common Interdisciplinary Issues and Lessons Learned
AUTHORS:
Paula R. Klemm, Donna Ruelens-Trinkaus, Leslie M. Allshouse, Patricia J. Barnard
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19, Higher Education, Academic Issues, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Lessons Learned
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nursing,
Vol.10 No.12,
December
23,
2020
ABSTRACT: Background: Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) dramatically impacted institutions of higher education. The effect was acute in the practice disciplines such as medicine, medical laboratory science, and nursing. The purpose is to describe how an interdisciplinary team, led by nursing faculty, adapted to the changes driven by COVID-19 and the lessons that were learned for nursing and other disciplines in higher education. Method: The interdisciplinary group created a comprehensive list which captured the impact of COVID-19 on their academic disciplines. Similarities and differences between the disciplines regarding faculty experiences, teaching, and responding to student concerns were discovered. Results: Collective review resulted in the identification of four inclusive thematic categories and several sub-categories. These were: academic considerations (didactic, lab, clinical), perceptions (faculty, student), ethical considerations, and social determinants affecting the learning environment. Lessons Learned: This project utilized an innovative interdisciplinary approach to identify common COVID-19 effects on higher education. Conclusions: Nursing and other health-related disciplines should pursue interdisciplinary collaboration to address common academic issues that arise during the COVID.