More than 190 NDSU students in nursing and pharmacy are part of history while gaining practical experience.
Students are helping healthcare systems across the region to efficiently administer COVID-19 vaccinations to frontline healthcare workers and will continue to assist in giving vaccinations during the next several months. These upper-level students have all received training to administer vaccines and are supervised by faculty members in the clinics.
On Wednesday, it was a memorable day for NDSU Nursing at Sanford Health students in Bismarck. NDSU nursing students were the first educational partner to assist in administering the COVID-19 vaccination to frontline workers in Bismarck.
“After a wild year, this vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel and I feel honored to have been able to be a part of history,” said Sumeja Mujanovic, a student at NDSU School of Nursing at Sanford Health in Bismarck. “It was amazing seeing all the healthcare workers that showed up who believe in the evidence-based practice and the science behind this vaccination. This experience will definitely be something I will remember for my entire career. How cool is it that I get to say I was one of the people in the world to administer the first ever COVID vaccination?”
In Fargo, NDSU pharmacy and nursing students are assisting Essentia Health and Sanford Health in providing vaccinations quickly to frontline healthcare workers.
“I participated because there is a tremendous amount of hope being given with this vaccine. As a pharmacy student, I can help to distribute that hope,” said Martin McNichols, fourth-year pharmacy student. “As the night went on yesterday (during the vaccination clinic), people seemed more and more upbeat, setting a possible end to this pandemic and defeat of this virus.”
The camaraderie of the events is palpable, according to McNichols, providing a boost in overall morale. “Vaccinations are important to prevent diseases that can be prevented … to protect ourselves and others,” said McNichols.
“NDSU’s health care professions students that are helping the people and the state in this manner truly embody our land-grant mission,” said Charles D. Peterson, dean of the College of Health Professions at NDSU. “Our students are gaining unprecedented experience in a variety of ways during this pandemic. Such adaptability and resiliency will help them throughout their future professional careers.”
As a student-focused, land grant, research university, we serve our citizens.
