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Sarah Downey, president and CEO of Michael ¾ÅÓÎÌåÓý (MGH), asked Irene Andress, Vice President, Patient Experience, Health Professions & Chief Nursing Executive at MGH, five questions about nursing at Michael ¾ÅÓÎÌåÓý.

You have questions and Michael ¾ÅÓÎÌåÓý (MGH) has answers.

In MGH’s special Nursing Week edition of â€�5 Questions with President and CEO Sarah Downeyâ€� video series, Sarah interviews Irene Andress, Vice President, Patient Experience, Health Professions & Chief Nursing Executive, about the important role nurses play at the hospital and across the healthcare system. 

Watch the video to find out the answers to the following 5 questions:

1. Can you tell us about the different roles that nurses play at MGH and across the health care system? (0:45)

Key points: There are three categories of nurses: nurse practitioners, registered nurses and registered practical nurses. As a profession, nurses work within four different domains referred to as clinical practice, education, research and leadership/administration. Within each domain, nurses are part of an interdisciplinary team with other healthcare providers.

2. During COVID-19, MGH has redeployed over 1,500 staff to 20 different units. How has this affected nurses and how is MGH providing education and support? (2:47)

Key points:  Many nurses have received specialized training and support at MGH in order to be safely redeployed to critical areas of the hospital including the COVID-19 assessment clinic, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and patient screening areas.

3. How has MGH ensured that nurses have appropriate access to personal protective equipment to keep them safe on the job? (5:55)

Key points: Clinical experts and researchers at MGH have dedicated endless hours to ensure that health care providers have access to, know how put on and take off their personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks, face shields, gowns and gloves. They also continue to monitor the conservation of PPE and cleaning supplies to ensure there are adequate supplies for the duration of the pandemic.

4. There are many family and visitor restrictions in place during COVID-19. How are nurses and health professions balancing the need for compassionate care and protecting the safety of all patients and staff? (7:45)

Key points: The hospital has established policies and processes that reduce the number of people coming in and out of MGH while preserving visiting at times that are “essentialâ€� (during birth, the admission of small children or at the time of death). MGH is coordinating virtual visits to connect patients and their loved ones when visiting isn’t permitted.

5. What is something others might be surprised to learn about the nursing profession? (10:08)

Key points: Irene shares a few of the interesting innovations developed by nurses to better the human condition and reduce or eliminate human suffering.

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