Fifth-year nursing students hold first on-campus flu vaccine clinic
For the first time, fifth-year nursing students held an on-campus flu vaccine clinic, giving them a more detailed hands-on experience they wouldn’t have otherwise gotten from in-clinic practice.
On Thursday, fifth-year nursing students took to the Troy University Health Center to hold a Flu Vaccine Clinic. The clinic aimed to distribute the flu vaccine to more people and to educate students about the flu and how to prevent it.
"As collegiate students, they are in small, confined areas, and flu season hits at the peak of exams and the stress of the semester, so their immune systems are already a little bit compromised," said Rebecca Allen-Jones, a faculty member in the Troy University School of Nursing. "[By] having the flu vaccine on board, even if they do get the flu, it won't be as bad."
Some fifth-year nursing students found the event to be important, as flu season continues and more students get infected.
“I think it’s important to not only protect yourself and family members, but your patients as well,” said Madelyn Newman, a fifth-year nursing student from Midland City, Alabama.
For Jordan Sinness, a fifth-year nursing student from Sebring, Florida, the vaccine is important primarily for herd immunity.
“It helps make sure that as a community, we keep a small amount of people that only get the flu,” Sinness said.
Through the event, nursing students gained experience in multiple ways, including assisting patients with screening paperwork and administering vaccines, which isn't usually practiced in a hospital setting.
"Many of us have had in-clinic giving IVs and even SUBQ but we don't get [much] practice giving vaccines," said Brooke Moseley, a fifth-year BSN student from Opp, Alabama.
Students gained experience in executing public health events by planning the clinic and reaching out directly to students walking by.
"Nursing is not just in the hospital like we think," Allen-Jones said. "Especially in public health, it's about outreach into the community [...] and keeping your community safe in the long run.
"Hopefully that translates to that when they enter practice, they'll be able to work in their own communities wherever they move to and be able to host public events there."
The Troy University School of Nursing plans to have more student-led events throughout the year, including hearing screenings in the spring.
Students who missed the flu clinic can get a flu vaccination at the Campus Health Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday.
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