CBU nursing students help administer COVID-19 vaccines

Riverside, Calif. (Feb. 25, 2021) – Nursing students from California Baptist University are assisting at COVID-19 vaccination clinics, helping to administer the injections.   

To date, 70 students have helped at Parkview Community Hospital, Riverside Medical Clinic, Corona Regional Medical Center and Redlands Community Hospital.

“The College of Nursing is resolved to be part of the solution,” said Dr. Karen Bradley, dean of the College of Nursing. “We're reaching out to student nurses for volunteers, and faculty have been volunteering. We’re always engaged in the community but we definitely feel like now, we can help.”

In her previous clinicals, Nikizen Boco, a nursing junior, heard patients tell stories of losing a loved one to COVID-19. Additionally, she had potential exposure to the disease outside of school. Those reasons led her to want to give the vaccine.

“I feel anxious but prepared. I would rather be trained and experience the worst [now] in order to better know how to properly treat my patients in the future,” Boco said, referring to becoming a nurse.

Ashleigh Beaty, a nursing junior, helped give vaccines at Parkview Community Hospital in Riverside. She was a bit nervous about giving the shots, but this was mostly due to the possibility of being watched by, and even giving the vaccine to, seasoned healthcare professionals.

“I wanted to help with administering vaccines because it was an opportunity to practice and an opportunity to witness a small aspect of history being made in the medical field,” Beaty said. 

Andrea Sleigh, a nursing senior, administered about 35 shots during her three-hour shift.  

“I feel honored to be a part of the healthcare team, especially because of what is going on in the world right now,” Sleigh said. “It is a scary time to be a nurse, but nurses are very adaptive, and we are committed to helping others, so I am happy to be of help.”

Bradley, who has also assisted at the vaccination clinics, said she saw the joy and relief on the people's faces as they received the vaccine.

“I think that's a good learning opportunity for the students to witness that level of public health and health promotion,” Bradley said. “In the students, you see a spirit of encouragement and hope and being part of the solution. They want to do this.”