Serving the community during the pandemic

By AACC 21st Century Center Staff

Nursing students at community colleges get hands-on experience at vaccination clinics

With vaccination efforts underway across the country, community colleges are opening their doors as vaccination sites. Some college students are personally helping with vaccinations, too.

In North Carolina, second year associate degree nursing students at Roanoke-Chowan Community College administered Covid-19 vaccines to over 50 R-CCC faculty and staff, under the supervision of R-CCC nursing faculty and the Hertford County Health Department. They also assisted with the 780 vaccines administered at the Ahoskie Amphitheater.

“Participating in the Covid clinic was a wonderful opportunity. We were able to help the community by providing the Covid-19 vaccine to those most vulnerable to the disease. We are thankful that the health department let our class take part in the clinic so a greater number of people could receive the vaccine,” student Jared Riddick said.

First-year nursing students at another North Carolina college – Western Piedmont Community College – also volunteered at a Covid-19 vaccination clinic.

“The students did not hesitate when asked if they wanted to be part of a team administering vaccines to hopefully wipe out the Covid-19 pandemic,” Nursing Program Director Karen Pritchard said.

Students learn to administer vaccinations within their first semester of the nursing program at WPCC. Now in their second semester, volunteering at the Covid-19 vaccine clinic allows them to further their training and technique while being surrounded by other medical personnel from local agencies.

The time is counted toward students’ clinical hours for the nursing program.

Nine Brookdale Community College (New Jersey) nursing students volunteered to help residents who had appointments get the vaccine. Instead of working in a hospital setting for their clinical hours, students in the Nursing 272 class volunteered on the Brookdale campus at the vaccine distribution center.

“This is a great opportunity for the class,” said nursing instructor Andrew Fouchey. “We get to see on the government level how Monmouth County is coordinating the vaccine procedures. It’s an important part of nursing education to be a part of this.”

The students performed several tasks at the vaccination site. “We have been educating those who have come to get a vaccine on what to expect with post-vaccine symptoms. We are also there to answer any questions and help reduce their fears,” student Danielle Zambrano said.

AACC 21st Century Center Staff

is a contributor to the 21st-Century Center.