ECPI University Steps Up to Support Vaccinations

Nursing students Kimberly Strand, Siobhan Turner, Skylar Marks, and faculty member Courtney Fizer

Virginia Beach Campus – Nursing students are assisting Sentara Healthcare with vaccinations throughout the Coastal Virginia region. In late December, the Director of the Virginia Beach Registered Nursing program was approached by Sentara nursing leadership to invite ECPI University nursing students to assist hospital staff with vaccinations. “We quickly realized that our College of Nursing could make an impact on a wider scale serving many of the Sentara facilities across the state,” says Dean of Associate Degree Registered Nursing and Practical Nursing Andrea Lipsmeyer. “The initiative grew from one campus serving one market to four campuses serving nine facilities across Virginia.  

“In addition to this being an amazing learning experience for our students, we were anxious to help support our clinical sites and frontline workers. Our faculty and students want to help lessen the impact of COVID-19 in any way we can. Many of our faculty and students selflessly gave up time during their Christmas break to be a part of this important endeavor. Our students and faculty continue to support the initiative. As of late January, more than 300 students and 30 faculty members across Virginia have participated in more than 60 shot clinics.”

Nursing student Shianne McFatter administers a vaccine. 

Newport News Campus –More than 50 nursing students are assisting staff with COVD-19 vaccines at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, Obici Hospital, and the Hampton Careplex. “It has been a tremendous experience for our students to gain a real-time perspective of just how important their contribution is to the health, safety, and welfare of our communities,” says faculty member Anastasia Martin. “I have been so impressed by our students’ skills, positive attitudes, personal interactions, and eagerness to help, and that they were readily asked to return anytime.”

Students say this experience has been valuable on many levels. “Being able to give vaccines as a student is a blessing,” says Nursing Student Carlyssa LeBeauf. “The experience of administering vaccines during the pandemic has served as confirmation that I’m entering the right field. Knowing the number of lives I have already impacted only as a student makes me hopeful for my career as a nurse. The instructors and employees at the site made it a positive experience and I look forward to returning for more volunteer opportunities.”

Greenville Campus – Teal Fleming and Scott Horton are two of many nursing students who are assisting at the vaccine clinic at St. Francis Hospital. 

Richmond/Emerywood Campus – Nursing student Jasmine Lee prepares to administer a vaccine. She is among the nearly 40 students from campus assisting with registration and vaccinations at Richmond Community Hospital, Richmond Bon Secours Mercy Health Hospitals, and Sentara Healthcare’s Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville.  

Northern Virginia Campus – More than 50 nursing students have been administering vaccines at Sentara Hospital in Woodbridge Virginia since the end of December. 

Charleston Campus – Victoria Risica is one of the campus’ nursing students assisting with vaccinations at the Medical University of South Carolina. 

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