KSU Columbiana Students Participate in COVID Vaccinations

COLUMBIANA COUNTY, Ohio — Nursing students from the Kent State University East Liverpool and Salem campuses are assisting with COVID-19 vaccination clinics across the county.

Students in the Bachelor of Science in nursing program on the Salem Campus, as well as those in the associate degree in nursing program on the East Liverpool Campus, have been a part of the vaccination roll out. The students from the Salem campus participate each Tuesday in weekly vaccine clinics sponsored by the Columbiana County Community Action Agency in Lisbon and East Liverpool. Sandy Gruszecki, nurse manager for the Lisbon, East Liverpool and Salineville CAA helped coordinate the clinical experiences for the student nurses.

Students from the East Liverpool Campus assisted at the immunization clinic held for employees of the East Liverpool City Schools. John Dawson, an adjunct clinical instructor for the ADN program and a nurse with the East Liverpool City Hospital, coordinated the experience for the students.

Dr. Cheryl Brady, faculty member for the baccalaureate program, said the students are gaining valuable first-hand experience with the vaccination process as well as a historical vantage point to the pandemic.

“The participants receiving the vaccines are very grateful and eager for others to get vaccinated,” Brady said. “Many have commented about wanting to see their grandchildren.”

In addition to registering patients, crowd management and documentation, the students conducted post-injection monitoring for those who received the vaccine. The students will return to participate in the second round of immunizations.

Representing the Salem Campus BSN program are Madeleine Hinkle, Samantha Jeffers, McKenzie Martin, Sarah Miller, Samantha Prosser, Kristan Santos, Melody Troyer and Kellie Walker. Kent State East Liverpool students include Makayla Ammon, Matthew Bigelow, Addison Guildoo, Joelle McCoy, Jeanna Scarabino, Sierra Wells and Abigail Ziegler.

“It was a great historical experience for our students,” said Dr. Carol Hrusovsky, program director for the East Liverpool program.

Pictured: Kent State Columbiana County nursing students Addison Guildoo (East Liverpool), Melody Troyer (Salem) and Kellie Walker (Salem) were among those assisting with COVID-19 vaccinations in the county.

Source: Kent State University Columbiana County

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.