Student nurses on joining countywide vaccination efforts: “It feels so rewarding.”

It’s the third day of EU nursing major, senior Kaitlyn Kunde, working at the DuPage County Fairgrounds mass vaccination site. Today she will be preparing vaccine doses. While removing air bubbles from syringes is a change of pace from the previous days where she was administering doses to patients, the task is just as engaging.

“I found a lot of enjoyment in drawing up the vaccines in the back,” said Kunde, marveling at the process. “It was just one after another — gotta draw ’em up and get ’em out on the floor.”  

As a student, participating in the front lines of the COVID-19 inoculation effort helps Kunde find strength in her skill set. 

“After that first vaccine I gave, there was so much confidence,” she said. “I was like, ‘okay, I know the routine, I know the procedure.’” 

Kunde and other student nurses were vaccinated through the DuPage Health Department before beginning their volunteer service. 

The implementation of proactive measures, such as mask-wearing and maintaining hygiene, should not subside as the pandemic slows, Kunde believes. “I’ve always kept hand-sanitizer in my car,” she said. 

“It’s been really fascinating going through nursing school in the middle of a pandemic,” she reflected, noting that she feels equipped to launch her career following graduation. 

“It’s exciting for the students to have this opportunity as they are on their way out,” said Laura Minarich, EU professor and nurse practitioner, who is overseeing the partnership between the county and the university. Clinical observations for senior students are a primary component of Minarich’s community health course.

“I taught this class last year, and one of the graduates is employed at the DuPage Health Department,” shared Minarich. “It was really cool for the students to see their recent peer.” 

While there are 60 students in Minarich’s clinical training course; the group is split into two cohorts. The first students to join the vaccination campaign are nearly finished with their 30 mandatory practicum hours after starting in mid-February. 

“We are hoping to continue the collaboration with the health department for as long as they are running this vaccine clinic,” said Minarich, mentioning that the next batch of nursing students will be placed at the clinic in a few weeks. 

EU student nurses are supervised and assisted by faculty, including Minarich, at the county-run site for eight-hour workdays. “On the first day that we were there, we gave around 200 vaccines,” said Minarich. 

Prior to handling the COVID-19 vaccine, students completed a training module offered by the CDC, which outlines best practices for medical professionals to observe. Additionally, the county conducted an orientation for all the volunteers that enhanced their ability to perform intramuscular injections. 

Holland Kosiek initially reacted to the training with some apprehension. “It made me nervous, like a ‘what are we getting ourselves into?’ kind of thing.” Kosiek’s worries dissipated once the students became adjusted to the various duties at the clinic. 

Before the pandemic disrupted students’ usual clinical experiences, student nurses often completed rotations at local hospitals. 

For Kosiek, who currently works as a patient care technician at St. Alexius Hospital in Hoffman Estates, EU’s volunteer program at the DuPage vaccination site has given her a fresh perspective on medical caregiving. 

“In a hospital, we’re doing more acute care, so we're treating a more specific disease or illness," explained Kosiek. Comparatively, preventative medicine, like vaccines, provide targeted protection by preparing your body to successfully fight future infections. 

“I feel like there is so much power just in a little vial, and they are trusting you to draw that up,” added Holland. “It’s very humbling.” 

The clinic is presently receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine vials, which both require two doses for efficacious prevention. 

Procedures for administering shots from different pharmaceutical companies can vary, according to Kosiek. 

“The Pfizer dose, you have to dilute yourself with saline. You have to take the saline and inject it into the vaccine dose. Then you have to invert it ten times,” she said, detailing the process. “The Moderna is already prepared.” 

Educating patients on the vaccine as they wait for their doses or sit in observation has quickly become one of Kosiek’s favorite aspects about the job. “Seeing them excited and being like, ‘thank you so much for the work that you’re doing,’ has been really cool.” 

Fellow student nurse Kaliana Onita has been impressed by the community-wide coordination at the clinic. “It runs like a well-oiled machine,” she mused. 

On days that she interacts directly with visitors at the clinic, Onita appreciates the hands-on experience of injecting vaccinations and later, monitoring patients for potential side-effects or allergic reactions. “Sometimes we get to chat while we’re waiting for their vaccines.” 

In a hospital setting, Onita notes that students service a limited number of patients, as they may be stationed in a mother and baby unit, for instance. Working at the clinic allows Onita to establish rapport with a greater segment of the population. “It’s so different from just seeing two people.” 

Onita estimates that she vaccinated 60 people over the course of four days. “In nursing school, we don’t get a lot of opportunities to repeat a skill for hours on end,” she emphasized. 

“It is such a great opportunity for us students to be able to insert ourselves in the community,” Onita elaborated. “We’re thankful that we have the chance to practice giving vaccines, watching for symptoms and asking screening questions.” 

Juana Bedolla, who transferred to EU in 2019 after entering the nursing program, said that volunteering at a vaccination site allows her to aid in the county's pandemic response and, “it feels so rewarding.” 

Once she has graduated in May, Bedolla will be joining her peers in cramming for the NCLEX exam, which must be taken before they begin working as entry-level nurses. 

“My goal is to start working in an ICU,” Bedolla said when discussing her post-graduation plans.

In addition to her academic and career-oriented commitments, Bedolla hopes to utilize her newfound knowledge to communicate the importance of public health. “This opportunity will help me in my future advocacy of vaccinations and immunizations for the community.”