As the backbone of healthcare systems providing knowledgeable, expert and patient-centered care for people in communities across the U.S., nurses have been rated as the most honest and ethical profession in Gallup's Annual Poll for 19 years running. With the onset of the pandemic, the nursing profession was front and center and, as a nation, we counted on the expertise of the nursing profession even more.

Nurses have always played a significant role in vaccine education and administration. The introduction of COVID-19 vaccines brought a barrage of questions, information and misinformation. In the fall of 2020, an American Nurses Association (ANA) poll found that only 15% of nurses were confident that COVID-19 vaccines were safe and effective, while 18% were comfortable discussing the vaccines with patients—it became clear nurses needed urgent support.

That is why the ANA partnered with 22 other leading nursing organizations to create the COVID Vaccine Facts for Nurses campaign—to help nurses educate themselves and prepare them to inform and counsel their patients and the communities they serve.

Since launching the campaign in March 2021, this diverse coalition of nursing organizations has developed an array of COVID-19 vaccine resources to meet the needs of nurses and communities in all settings, including town halls, webinars and shareable social assets, which have received over two million impressions on social media platforms.

It appears these efforts have paid off.

Over time, nurses have come to embrace the safety and effectiveness of the COVID vaccines, as demonstrated by ANA survey results from October 2020 and July 2021. When first asked, 15% of nurses agreed with the statement that COVID vaccines are safe and effective, and that number rose to 75% of nurses surveyed in July 2021.

Through their interactions with the campaign, nurses have increased their knowledge and supported meaningful public health efforts within their communities and workplaces—equipped with critical, current, science-based and culturally sensitive vaccine information.

Nurse and clinical educator Carol LaMere, RN, BSN, OCN of the Cancer Institute at Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, MD, attended a COVID Vaccine Facts for Nurses webinar about engaging vaccine hesitancy in August. The webinar proved valuable for her, not just for guidance on talking to patients but also for talking to family and friends outside the clinical setting.

“We did a role-playing exercise to act out an interaction between a vaccine-hesitant person and a nurse, and we got to play both parts,” Carol said. “It helped me see the issue from their side and helped me feel a little more empathetic to their situation—you can’t force someone to change their mind. They need to be heard.”

And often, the ones that need to be heard are not just patients or family members but nurses themselves.

“There was at least one nurse here who was terrified to get the vaccine,” said Carol. “We armed her with all of the information on the COVID Vaccine Facts for Nurses website, including the frequently asked questions that addressed many of her concerns as well. In the end, several of her nursing colleagues went with her to get her vaccine. They were with her through the whole thing.”

Diane Breckenridge, PhD, MSN, RN, ANEF, FAAN, knows a few things about educating nurses. A former dean and professor at Charles R. Drew University, Diane made sure to equip her nursing students with a wide variety of educational tools and resources. She saw firsthand just how valuable the COVID Vaccine Facts for Nurses materials could be in helping her students and patients overcome vaccine hesitancy.

“I was mentoring three high school students who were very interested in pursuing the nursing profession, and they expressed concerns about the vaccine,” she said. “I walked them through the COVID Vaccine Facts for Nurses materials and took time to engage with them, listen to them. They walked away empowered by that information.”

Both Diane and Carol highlighted the importance of creating a dialogue with those hesitant about COVID-19 vaccines and sharing their personal experiences and reflections.

“I think we need to focus more on using the word ‘neighbor’ when educating and engaging. We’re getting vaccinated to help protect our neighbors,” Diane said. “And nurses are such an important part of our communities.”

“Being part of the most trusted profession helps give nurses a unique platform...” Carol added. “We are frequently asked: ‘Did you get the vaccine? Did your children get the vaccine?’ As nurses, just sharing your story and your process, ‘I was nervous, I educated myself, I was comfortable with what I found out and got vaccinated.’ I think that speaks volumes.”

As for why this campaign is so crucial, Diane firmly believes that “it is for the good of public health that we all get vaccinated. And to reach that goal, we must first ensure our most trusted profession has the information needed to trust in the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines.”

Carol agrees, saying, “I’ve been a nurse for 31 years, and the nurses that I know take our responsibility for our patients very seriously. I couldn’t recommend something for my patients myself if I didn’t know it was okay.”

Johnson & Johnson was proud to partner with ANA and the 22 partner organizations to sponsor this campaign. Resources remain available on the COVID Vaccine Facts 4 Nurse website