Empowering New York's Nurse Heroes to Handle the Worst of the Pandemic

The New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) has helped launch a transformational artificial-intelligence-based online learning program to increase the number of Registered Nurses able to handle the explosion of COVID-19 patients in New York City's Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Leveraging its global network of expertise, the NYAS identified a cutting edge online learning company, Sweden's Sana Labs, that was willing to donate its team pro bono to meet New York's need. The world renowned Mount Sinai Health System, one of the largest in New York with eight hospital campuses, jumped at the chance to "upskill" their heroic nurses and provided Sana with curricula drawn from the American Association of Clinical Care Nurses and Mount Sinai itself. In record time, this material was transformed into a 16 hour course that can be taken in short batches during break time or at home on personal computers. So far, about 100 nurses in a pilot program at Mount Sinai Hospital System have used this innovative learning platform.