The Covid-19 pandemic has had a global impact with more than four million deaths, in particular those in long-term care facilities with 1 in every 12 residents succumbing to this disease. So much was taken away from these residents such as social interaction with others, opportunities to be physically active, visitations with loved ones, and so much more. Absent from the literature is the impact 12 to 18 months of social isolation had on the overall health of those who live in these facilities. The objective of this research is to determine the impact the isolation had on residents in one anonymous Wisconsin, long-term care facility by assessing non-Covid death rates, pressure ulcers, and weight loss of residents, with goal of identifying what mitigating interventions could be implemented in the future. This study compares March 2019-Febuary 2020 data to the pandemic months of March 2020-Febuary 2021. Preliminary results indicate that there were only two more deaths during the pandemic months; however, there was a substantial increase in pressure ulcers and weight loss which may contribute to an increased risk of deaths for long-term care residents. Additional data must be collected and analyzed to determine its statistical significance and draw more definitive conclusion.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the crucial role that nurses play in the US healthcare system; they are the backbone of the medical industry and provide care that is crucial to maintaining the health of our population. However, the pandemic also made even more clear how undervalued nurses are in the healthcare workforce. Nurses are expected to navigate conflicting responsibilities to their patients, as well as themselves, while lacking protection from their government and also the industry they work in. Many issues in the nursing field become clear when observing the treatment and experiences of nursing during a pandemic; there are extreme psychological impacts that are not properly treated, a lack of personal protective equipment and unclear guidelines on how it should be used, insufficient support in the form of breaks and time off, and an often-judgmental work environment. The devaluation of nursing as a profession stems from gendered biases that nursing is “feminine” work, and therefore undeserving of healthy and supportive working conditions. Contempt and bias against the nursing field is not typically demonstrated in such a clear way, but instead concealed under “heroic discourse” that praises nurses for their bravery and sacrifice without any acknowledgment of nurses' struggles or needs. (Mohammed, et. al., 1) By observing inequities in nursing during a pandemic it is possible to recognize meaningful changes that must be made to offer greater support to individuals in this devalued field.

Telemedicine, the practice of virtual healthcare, is a practice that is growing rapidly in rural areas all around the United States. This type of healthcare technique is something that is both convenient and safe for people everywhere. With the impact that the Covid-19 Virus has had on the world today, it’s important to take precautions and only go to hospitals when necessary. Most nurse practitioners (NPs) are not specifically trained in telemedicine and there are not good tools to assess clinical skill of NPs trained using video or virtual reality-based simulation. The proposed telephone-based nursing telemedicine clinical skill assessment and feedback tool is a potentially promising way to assess NPs clinical skill application.This project includes scenarios where telemedicine would be recommended and the positive impacts and outcomes it has for people ranging from infants to the elderly. Additionally, it’s significant to note how much of a difference this kind of practice is and how much more convenient and safe it is compared to spending money on transportation, sitting in waiting rooms, and being around other sick people. The findings conducted from this project will help spread the word about telehealth nursing and urge patients to take advantage of it.