As part of an ongoing partnership with UTMB’s School of Nursing, the SPECTRE program has led multiple hands-on biocontainment training sessions for nursing students, equipping them with essential infection control skills and specialized patient care techniques for high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs). This full-day training introduces students to critical concepts such as personal protective equipment (PPE) use, outbreak response, and infection prevention in high-risk healthcare environments.
Led by UTMB’s Biocontainment Care Unit (BCU) leadership team, including Jennifer Lirette, MSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, NC-BC (Clinical Educator, BCU); Dr. Corri Levine, PhD, MS, MPH (Associate Director, SPECTRE); and Julie Stefanick, MEd, BSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, CPEN (Nursing Program Coordinator, BCU), the training combines classroom instruction with hands-on skill-building. Students learn to properly don and doff PPE before rotating through skill stations where they practice IV starts, central line dressing changes, Foley catheter placement, and spill clean-up. Each station emphasizes infection control and biocontainment protocols, mirroring real-world healthcare challenges.
Student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with over 95% of students agreeing the training improved their confidence in infection control and patient care in high-risk environments. One participant shared, “This training made me more interested in this field of nursing.” Another commented, “Being able to practice clinical skills in a safe environment was extremely valuable.” Additionally, nearly half of the students expressed interest in volunteering as a Biocontainment Care Unit (BCU) nurse post-graduation.
Through this ongoing partnership, SPECTRE continues to provide UTMB nursing students with training that enhances their preparedness for infectious disease response. By equipping future nurses with the skills and confidence to work in high-risk environments, we ensure that frontline healthcare professionals are ready to meet evolving infectious disease challenges.
Melissa Massey-Program Manager for Education and Training for the SPECTRE program.