COVID-19 Contact Tracing For Nursing Professionals (Coursera)

The effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic have disproportionately affected certain population groups. This course provides an overview of the far-reaching impact of COVID-19 and presents contact tracing as a tool to mitigate the spread of the disease for nurses in Texas. Contact tracers are critically needed to help state and local health departments, particularly in large and diverse states such as Texas.
What You Will Learn

- Identify the signs, symptoms, modes of transmission and epidemiology of COVID-19

- Characterize underlying risk factors experienced by vulnerable groups that predisposes to COVID-19 and available resources for high risk communities

- Describe the purpose of contact tracing, the context in which it is conducted, and identify challenges and effective communication strategies

Syllabus

WEEK 1

Overview of COVID-19

COVID-19 is highly infectious caused by SARS-CoV-2 and can be spread by people with little or no symptoms. In this module we will cover the epidemiology and transmission of COVID-19 as well as offer more information about vaccines, vaccine development and treatment.

WEEK 2

Public Health in the Era of COVID-19

Diagnosing and investigating health problems and hazards in the community is an essential public health function and contact tracing is an invaluable part of this strategy. This module will explore effective communication skills, building rapport, and demonstrating cultural sensitivity and empathy in contact tracing.

WEEK 3

Contact Tracing 101

The process of contact tracing consists of four interrelated steps: reporting, investigation, identification, and follow-up. This module will describe the skills required to conduct COVID-19 contact investigation and elaborate on the systematic approach to conducting such an investigation.

WEEK 4

Ethical Issues and Special Populations

As a contact tracer, you will likely interview with individuals with diverse backgrounds. This module explores the impact of COVID-19 in special populations such as people of color, low-income, and the elderly to help you develop trust within the communities where the contact tracing is being conducted