In clinicals and community, Durham Tech health care students at forefront in COVID-19 response
Students serve in clinical rotations as a part of health care classes and many have seen the impact of COVID-19 first hand. Now, some are working with community partners to combat COVID-19 outside of clinical experience.
Courtney Wilburn, a second-year nursing student at Durham Tech, works in the emergency department at UNC Hospital where she sees patients with COVID-19 admitted regularly. She is one of several Durham Tech students helping with Durham Tech’s testing and vaccination clinics on Main Campus.
Durham Tech, in partnership with Ottendorf Labs, hosts weekly testing and vaccination clinics on campus. In September, the College announced all employees must show proof of vaccination or submit to weekly testing each week, beginning October 1.
“It means a lot to me to see people on the frontlines trying to get this pandemic under control, and spending time in the clinic has been such a great learning experience,” she said. “It’s amazing that Durham Tech did this. You can’t be a place that educates future healthcare providers and not be onboard with these efforts.”
Associate Degree Nursing Student Success Specialist/Instructor Lillie Hill said she jumped at the chance to help with the clinics.
“I thought this would be a great opportunity for our students to gain public health experience,” Hill said. “They’ve seen the hospital side of COVID, and now they get to see the community side, and help people protect themselves.”
Ashlee Price completed a nursing assistant course at Durham Tech before earning her nursing degree and now works in the cardiac ICU at Duke University Hospital. She came back to campus to help with the clinics.
“It’s so important as healthcare workers to explain why the vaccine is important and things you can expect without using all the medical jargon. When people don’t understand things, they fear them, and this is nothing to be afraid of because it’s here to protect us,” she said.
Price works alongside Durham Tech nursing students as they draw the shots and help prepare the patients.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with the students because I love teaching and I’m so passionate about this. It’s nice to have an opportunity to share that passion with others,” Price said.
The next vaccine clinic will be held October 8-9 with a second dose administered November 12-13. The clinic is open to the public and administers Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. It is located on Main Campus (1637 East Lawson Street Durham, NC 27703), Building 6, room 102 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On-site COVID-19 testing takes place Mondays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. also on Main Campus. Testing is offered via drive-thru located in parking lot B6 and provides the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. Testing is free and available to any Durham Tech student, employee, and all community members.
For more questions regarding the upcoming vaccine clinics and testing, please contact the Public Health Officer, Shaneka Grimes, at grimess@durhamtech.edu.
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Contact Marcy Gardner, Content and Social Media Coordinator, at gardnerm@durhamtech.edu