QCC’s Practical Nursing Students Help Administer First Round of COVID-19 Vaccines

Quinsigamond Community College practical nursing students are becoming a part of history. On December 18, eight practical nursing students along with their instructors Margaret “Meg” Yoder, professor of Nurse Education, and faculty member Christian Ilustre helped administer approximately 100 COVID-19 vaccines to Harrington Hospital employees at the Southbridge Armory. They worked with over a dozen Harrington nurses who also included a couple of QCC graduates, according to Professor Yoder.

Healthcare workers are the first to be vaccinated in the U.S. and Harrington employees who were vaccinated included doctors, nurses and other frontline workers at Harrington Healthcare and Harrington Physician Services.

“This is our community and having the opportunity to engage the practical nursing students in this historic moment, serving our community is immeasurable," said Professor Yoder. "The practical nursing students of the Class of 2021 are experiencing many firsts that will provide them with a resiliency unlike any other."

The QCC students not only administered the vaccine, they also performed intake assessments, gave educational information, and observed vaccine recipients post vaccination.

“Clinical experiences and opportunities are so important for all of our healthcare students. Harrington Hospital has been one of our most valuable partners during these past several months and we are honored to have been asked to assist at their COVID vaccine clinics,” said Dean of the School of Healthcare, Pat Schmohl. “Our practical nursing students are learning firsthand the importance of community based public health initiatives. We have procedures in place to keep our students safe while they are participating in these critical in-person clinical opportunities.”

"At a time when clinical placements are difficult to find, Harrington Hospital has remained committed to provide QCC students with face-to-face opportunities. We could not be more grateful," Professor Yoder added.

QCC students will continue to assist with the vaccination process throughout the remainder of the year and through April 2021.

"Encouraging service to our community is an integral piece of living QCC's mission, one of our core values. Today was just the beginning. All our students will be provided with this opportunity.  In the future, we will be administering the vaccine to front line workers, EMTs, police and fire, and high risk vulnerable populations,” Professor Yoder continued. "When the practical nursing students were presented with the opportunity, they echoed resoundingly... ‘Thank you!’"