{"id":49099,"date":"2021-04-16T10:59:48","date_gmt":"2021-04-16T14:59:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=49099"},"modified":"2021-05-04T14:41:28","modified_gmt":"2021-05-04T18:41:28","slug":"vaccines-in-the-valley-emus-nursing-students-volunteer-at-clinics-serving-community-and-fellow-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2021\/vaccines-in-the-valley-emus-nursing-students-volunteer-at-clinics-serving-community-and-fellow-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Vaccines in the Valley: EMU\u2019s nursing students volunteer at clinics serving community and fellow students"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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 As Virginia\u2019s vaccine rollout spreads into the Shenandoah Valley, 草莓社区 students are participating at both ends of the needle: both giving and getting the shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And in some cases, they’ve giving the shot to fellow students and EMU employees. According to an informal count kept by EMU Health Services, 110 students and 135 employees have received the full course of vaccines as of April 14. These numbers are based on copies of vaccination cards provided to Health Services (through covidhotline@emu.edu<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Micah Shristi, director of international student services at EMU, gets a vaccination from EMU<\/strong> student Natalie Stoltzfus at a clinic in the Convocation Center at James Madison University. (Photo by Kate Clark)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Senior nursing students<\/a> in Professor Kate Clark<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s community health course and associated clinical rotation this semester have been giving vaccines and aiding with processing at clinics up and down the Shenandoah Valley: in Lexington, at Augusta Health in Fishersville, the Rockingham County Fairgrounds, and Sentara RMH, the city jail and city community center in Harrisonburg. A recent afternoon saw a small group among the volunteer nurses, physicians, and other health professionals staffing a clinic in the convocation center at James Madison University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While other rotations like shadowing in the emergency department and the ICU unit may be more exciting, Natalie Stoltzfus<\/strong> has enjoyed the hands-on work and the chance to contribute in an historic public health effort. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese have been my favorite clinicals,\u201d says Stoltzfus, who will work at Penn State Hospital Hershey after graduation. \u201cOnce you get the routine down, it\u2019s pretty simple. Six hours goes by fast.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Clark, EMU\u2019s smaller program and long relationship with the local district of the Virginia Department of Health has contributed to unique opportunities to work small and large clinics and to interact with many different populations, including healthcare professionals, incarcerated individuals and senior citizens. [Read about spring 2020 clinical experiences<\/a> and how the Class of 2020 nursing graduates finished their semester<\/a>.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nursing student Katy Wessel confers with Professor Kate Clark before beginning her shift administering vaccines at a Virginia Department of Health clinic. (Photo by Rachel Holderman)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Nursing students provide Q & A at campus info sessions<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The knowledge students have gained as vaccinators and in the public health context has also benefited their fellow students and campus community. In mid-March, EMU Director of Health Services Irene Kniss<\/a><\/strong> contacted the nursing department about hosting a Q & A session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe knew students had lots of questions and a need for information related to the vaccines,\u201d Kniss said. \u201cWe encourage everyone to educate themselves and our nursing students and professors could be an important and trusted resource in that process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n