BC3 gets clinical trials through vaccine clinics
The coronavirus pandemic has revealed an increased need for nurses and health care workers in hospitals and health care facilities across the country, especially now, to administer COVID-19 vaccines in clinics.
Nursing students at Butler County Community College are getting an early start in the field by volunteering at vaccine clinics hosted by Butler Memorial Hospital. Patty Annear, dean of BC3's Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health, said Wednesday that the college is rotating about 80 students through the clinics a handful at a time, and they perform the job duties as they would if they were paid nurses.
“What is so wonderful about this is students are really given an opportunity to not only work in the community, but develop their clinical skills,” Annear said. “I'm big on collaboration between community hospital and community college; two entities working together to better the community.”
Prior to volunteering at these clinics, nursing students were offered the vaccine to keep them protected from COVID-19 while they worked to administer shots to others.
Mackenzie Dean, a second-semester nursing student at BC3, said she was grateful not only for this opportunity, but also for the chance to play a role in the fight to end the pandemic. She said she spent time performing different roles at the clinic, including the actual administration of the vaccine.
“It was a really, really awesome experience, honestly,” Dean said of her time volunteering at a clinic. “We could help people from their cars and back to their cars, we helped them fill out their pre-admission forms, and then the fun part was we actually got to administer the vaccines.”
Michele Gaiser, also a second-semester nursing student at BC3, said the clinic was well-organized, which made her feel safe, and helped keep patients calm as they arrived to receive their shots. She said people getting the vaccine, especially those in a higher age demographic, seemed grateful.
“I was really, really surprised with how grateful all the people were that were getting this vaccination,” she said. “With how everything was set up, they were able to get in, get out, their stress levels weren't that high, but I think they were just happy to get some sort of protection.”
Annear said the pandemic presented new challenges to nurses and nursing students, who are on the front lines of fighting the virus. She said volunteering at the clinics gives them valuable experience in treatment and maintaining personal safety.
“As we're turning the corner, they understand this is part of the job, and if they take the right precautions, then generally they'll be OK,” Annear said. “This is a part of health care and who we are as nurses, and I think students have really come to grips with it.”
Dean said attending nursing school for the past year has given her more drive to pursue a career in the field as well because, like everyone else, she wants to put an end to the pandemic. She encouraged everyone to get the vaccine when they are eligible because eventually it will lead to herd immunity in the community.
“I had a sore arm and some body aches,” Dean said. “If you're thinking, even if there's a little part of you that says do it, you should do it. That is one step closer to all of us getting rid of this pandemic.”
She also said she is confident she can get a job in the nursing field after she finishes school because of the widespread need for nurses across the country.
“There is always a need for nurses, especially right now, you can really see it,” Dean said. “People have lost their lives to this virus, and hospitals are struggling so hard to get workers now.”
Annear got her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic last week, and saw several familiar faces.
“Last week, I had my second vaccination, and who gave it to me but one of my students,” Annear said. “I was so proud because of the six people working there, five of the six were graduates of BC3.”
