This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
COVID-19 Prep: USC Trains Surgical Residents In ICU Nursing Skills
Ngo Le, a student medical assistant at International Community Health Services in Seattle, cleans a door handle. Karen Ducey/Getty Images
As the number of COVID-19 cases rises, there's a growing concern about how hospitals will deal with a potential wave of patients needing critical care. That includes backfilling medical staff.
USC's Keck School of Medicine is equipping surgical residents to step in. On Friday, it trained more than 50 of them in essential nursing skills for intensive care.
Dr. Kenji Inaba, who leads the school's surgical residency program, said while the residents are already trained in surgical procedures, they weren't ready to step into the shoes of a critical care nurse.
"None of them, when we tapped into them to find out, could hang an IV bag or adjust a ventilator," he said. "So our ICU director put together a curriculum — IV medications, intravenous access, how to hang these lines, how to get the vents going."
USC is considering providing the training to medical students as well.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
