Nursing Students Aid in Local Vaccination Efforts

Bruin Notes

George Fox nursing students put their skills to good use during the spring semester, volunteering their time and expertise to help vaccinate hundreds of Oregonians at Providence Newberg Medical Center and the Marion County mass vaccination clinic in Salem.

“Helping at any of the mass vaccination clinics is an amazing opportunity that goes far beyond technical skills,” says College of Nursing Dean Pam Fifer. “Students were able to experience being a part of an interprofessional healthcare team, working with a diverse group of patients, developing their communication and charting skills, providing patient education, demonstrating care and compassion, and developing some level of understanding of the infrastructure needed to provide such a mass vaccination clinic during a pandemic.”

Beyond clinical experience, the activity allowed students to act on their heart for service, notes Clinical Coordinator Caroline Wildhaber. “Every one of the students that I have spoken with following their shift only had wonderful things to say of the experience. Not many of us have the opportunity to give back during a time such as this, and students knew that the time spent volunteering would bring so much peace and relief to our patients.