Throughout the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Nu at-Large Chapter of Sigma at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing has worked with its chapter members and community partners to provide support and essential equipment.
Sigma is an international nursing honor society centered on supporting nurses’ efforts to improve health around the world and locally.
“Part of Sigma’s vision is developing nurse leaders anywhere to improve health care everywhere,” said Nu at-Large Chapter President-Elect and Assistant Professor Curry Bordelon, DNP, MBA, CRNP, CNE, NNP-BC, CPNP-AC. “We found it fitting that our local chapter would support our community and our chapter partners – UAB School of Nursing, UAB Hospital and Tuskegee University School of Nursing and Allied Health – by giving back in recognition of their efforts during this crisis.”
In March, Nu Chapter donated $1,000 to the Meals for Heroes campaign for first responders at UAB Hospital. They also donated 1,250 hospital-grade face masks to support UAB School of Nursing students as they reentered clinical experiences in early June.
“While this pandemic has presented us with unprecedented challenges, our learning efforts for students must continue,” Bordelon said. “As the UAB School of Nursing and community were planning for our students to return to the clinical setting, we knew that acquiring personal protective equipment could pose a challenge. Through this donation, we are happy to provide our students and the clinical settings where they gain valuable experience this important resource.”
Bordelon also reached out to Constance Smith Hendricks, a UAB School of Nursing alumna and Dean of the Tuskegee University School of Nursing and Allied Health, to identify opportunities for support of Tuskegee students during their reentry to clinicals.
“The Nu at-Large Chapter of Sigma is committed to supporting our partners as we plan for future of all of our students,” said Assistant Professor and Nu at-Large Chapter President Laura Steadman, EdD, CRNP, MSN, RN. “The Nu at-Large Chapter is honored to be a part of such a great team.”
