Pandemic Adaptations to an Honors Program Inaugural Capstone Projects.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Public Health
• Higher Education

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted healthcare systems and educational operations.
• Traditional nursing education models faced unprecedented disruption.
• Universities needed to innovate to support student learning and project completion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the adaptation of an honors nursing program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To highlight the strategies used to support student capstone projects.
• To identify lessons learned for sustainable future program delivery.

Main Methods:

• An honors program at a private university rapidly pivoted its operational model.
• Collaborative efforts involved mentors and instructional technologists.
• Virtual delivery methods were implemented for patient and nursing student education and program evaluation.

Main Results:

• The program successfully supported its inaugural cohort's capstone projects despite pandemic challenges.
• Virtual education and evaluation strategies were developed and implemented.
• A resource bank of lessons learned was created for future program iterations.

Conclusions:

• Adaptability and collaboration are crucial for nursing education continuity during crises.
• Virtual delivery models can effectively support complex academic projects.
• Documenting lessons learned fosters resilience and sustainability in educational programs.