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�������� nursing students are partnering with All Hands Whatcom to share how health care workers can improve care for people with opioid use disorder in the Whatcom County community.  

The final projects will be presented through the webinar, “Nurses Leading Change: Innovative Strategies for OUD Care,” on Thursday, June 12 at 11 a.m. 

Ten students will present three projects as a culmination of two quarters of work focused on evidence-based practice. The students began their projects in winter quarter when they collaborated with faculty on a clinical problem and analyze the available evidence for best practice. This was paired with a practice experience course where students learned from interdisciplinary professionals who provide opioid use disorder care. By the end of the quarter, the students developed evidence-based practice recommendations. 

“Students also got the opportunity to experience patient interactions from a different lens than what they see when they are working as nurses at local hospitals,” Assistant Professor of Nursing Katie Wahler said. “For most students, these were transformative experiences.” 

In spring quarter, students worked with community stakeholders, including leaders at Peace Health, Cascade Medical Advantage and Whatcom County Health and Community Services, to evaluate the feasibility of and create implementation plans for these recommendations. 

All Hands Whatcom, a community collaborative aiming to create opportunities for learning, cultivate compassion and connection, and foster a healing-centered approach to the opioid crisis, will host the webinar. 

Those interested in attending the webinar can register on  

Mikayla King (‘17) covers the College of Science and Engineering and Woodring College of Education for University Communications. Reach out to her with story ideas at kingm24@wwu.edu. &�Բ�����;