While the much-anticipated COVID-19 vaccine is finally being administered around the world, folks in Columbiana County are also receiving their immunizations at the local level with the help of nursing students from the Kent State East Liverpool and Salem campuses.
Students in the Bachelor of Science in nursing program on the Salem Campus, as well as those in the associate degree in nursing program on the East Liverpool Campus, became part of history as they participated in vaccine clinics across the county.
The BSN students from the Salem Campus participate each Tuesday in weekly vaccine clinics sponsored by the Columbiana County Community Action Agency in Lisbon and East Liverpool. The student nurses administer vaccines and provide patient education following the injections.
Sandy Gruszecki is the nurse manager for the Lisbon, East Liverpool and Salineville CAA and is also a 2010 graduate of the Salem Campus BSN program. She has worked for the CAA for 10 years and helps coordinate the clinical experiences for the student nurses.
Dr. Cheryl Brady, BSN faculty member, explained that she was one of Gruszecki鈥檚 instructors and they have stayed in touch over the years as nursing students complete community health clinicals at CAA.
鈥淭he participants receiving the vaccines are very grateful and eager for others to get vaccinated,鈥 she said. 鈥淢any have commented about wanting to see their grandchildren.鈥
Representing the Salem Campus BSN program are Madeleine Hinkle, Samantha Jeffers, McKenzie Martin, Sarah Miller, Samantha Prosser, Kristan Santos, Melody Troyer and Kellie Walker.
The ADN students from the East Liverpool Campus assisted at the immunization clinic held for employees of the East Liverpool City Schools. John Dawson, an adjunct clinical instructor for the ADN program and a nurse with the ELCS, coordinated the experience for the students.
Aside from helping with registration, crowd management and documentation, the students conducted post-injection monitoring for those who received the vaccine. The students will return to participate in the second round of immunizations.
Representing the ADN program at Kent State East Liverpool were students Makayla Ammon, Matthew Bigelow, Addison Guildoo, Joelle McCoy, Jeanna Scarabino, Sierra Wells and Abigail Ziegler.
鈥淚t was a great historical experience for our students,鈥 noted Dr. Carol Hrusovsky, program director for the East Liverpool ADN program.
Cutline A: ADN student Addison Guildoo checks the temperature of an East Liverpool City School employee waiting to receive the COVID vaccine.
Cutline B: Melody Troyer, a BSN student from the Salem Campus, administers a COVID-19 vaccine to a community member.
Cutline C: Students from the ADN program at Kent State East Liverpool volunteered at the vaccination clinic held for employees of the East Liverpool City School district.
Cutline D: BSN student Kellie Walker injects a community member with the COVID-19 vaccine.