Felician University held a virtual President’s hour for the School of Nursing Wednesday, June 24. Acting President Dr. Sylvia McGeary began the hour by thanking students for choosing the Nursing profession, especially in this time of COVID-19 saying Felician nurses are a big part of the reason New Jersey has quality nursing care. “We’re waiting for you to come back so we can continue to help you move toward your desired goal of going out into the world helping people with the skills you will learn here, with the desire that you have in your heart to be healers and helpers.”

The Nursing students were told the same social distancing and other safety protocols will be followed on all Felician campuses including the site of the Accelerated BSN program in Parsippany. Nursing School Dean Dr. Christine Mihal told participants virtual clinicals exceeded expectations, “but there is nothing like direct patient care, and Felician is fully ready and committed to having you back in clinicals in the fall.” Dean Mihal added the deans and educators of the Nursing School were assured in a conference call with all state hospitals that while students will be trained at hospitals they will not be on any COVID units, but there will be temperature checks and students will be required to fill out a questionnaire each morning, and wear masks at all times adding, “all of our students will be required to have two COVID tests three weeks apart. The first one cannot be before August 1, and you’ll get all this information in writing, but this is a requirement the hospitals have instituted.” Mihal also told the nursing students that hospitals have assured Felician there will be adequate PPE, or personal protective Equipment for students. In addition, Nursing School Associate Dean Patricia Munno told nursing students, “We fully plan on offering our senior Immersion course in the fall semester.”

In the Q & A section of the President’s Hour one student asked if the University would be flexible in helping students who are having trouble managing clinicals due to childcare or other issues. Acting President Sylvia McGeary said Felician works very hard to listen to the needs of individual students adding, “There are counselors and advisors that are available to talk through any kind of situation, and we will try to find someone here on campus who can work through your challenges. We know these times are challenging. They’re challenging for us too.”

Students were also told they can sign up for Felician’s new payment portal link “Touch Net” on the My Felician page, or reach out to Student Financial Services for help. They were again reminded to check their Felician email, Instagram, and Facebook on a regular basis, or to email professors or deans with direct questions.

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About Felician University

Felician University engages over 2,300 undergraduate, graduate, and adult students through programs in Arts & Sciences, Business, Nursing, and Education. Universal Franciscan values of social justice, compassion, and respect for human dignity serve as an inclusive foundation for transforming the lives of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University’s education is ranked 3rd best return on investment for private colleges in New Jersey 2018 by the PayScale.com College ROI Report and is ranked #1 safest college campus in the state by niche.com.