The BSU-College of Nursing (CN) was allowed to hold limited face-to-face classes after a tedious month-long process. The said process began with an orientation about the guidelines in conducting limited face-to-face classes for universities with Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Dr. J. Prospero “Popoy” De Vera III. The requirements that the CN had to satisfy were based on the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 2021-001 of CHED and the Department of Health (DOH).  JMC 2021-001 required the conduct of consultations with students, parents, and the La Trinidad LGU.            

“The limited face-to-face class is voluntary depending on the parents and students,” explained CN Dean Vicente G. Panagan Jr. He added that a part of their orientation and consultation was whether students and parents would agree or disagree to limited face-to-face classes. The CHED, DOH, and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of La Trinidad inspected the CN four times to check whether their recommendations have been complied with before finally awarding the Certificate of Authority to offer limited face-to-face classes.

The first visit by CHED was on March 9, 2021, and the college complied with the recommendations on March 11, 2021. Another visit was done on April 5, 2021, by the CHED, DOH, and La Trinidad LGU. The compliance summary was submitted by the college on April 10, 2021. To further prepare and finalize the plan, the La Trinidad LGU gave more recommendations which were complied with on April 21, 2021. Before receiving their Certificate of Authority, Dean Panagan mentioned that CHEDRO-CAR Regional Director Dr. Demetrio P. Anduyan Jr. and CHED-CAR Education Supervisor Dr. Jimmy G. Catanes made a post-visit. The CN anticipated a total of 242 students. Out of these, 108 are second years and 134 are third years. The CN implemented schedules for a three-day class in a week for each section and year level.

“The second year students are divided into sections, one section comes three days a week and then the third year section will come for the next three days. Since the students are soon to be considered as front-line workers, they are provided with vaccinations (A1 Eligibility). As part of their preparation, they already had their second dose of (COVID-19) vaccine,” Dean Panagan said.

The CN made sure that the students continued having their online classes. A mixture of both online and offline learning was observed. The students were also given an assurance of safety when they are deployed to their on-the-job training (OJT). Dean Panagan clarified that the student nurses would have their OJT in COVID-19 facilities but in clean wards, not where COVID-19 patients are admitted.

The College of Nursing was acknowledged as a role model for BSU colleges and institutes that are considering face-to-face classes. Dean Panagan together with the CN employees and staff committed to assisting any CHED composite team who are also planning on holding limited face-to-face classes. //AKCari ño