Partners in a Pandemic
The UNM College of Nursing joined more than 70 nursing schools across the nation in the COVID-19 Community Engagement Pledge led by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
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Our students, faculty, leadership and staff volunteered to vaccinate on the first day vaccines where available to frontline healthcare workers in New Mexico – December, 15, 2020 at the UNM Hospitals. All healthcare workers in the UNM system who wanted the vaccine have now received it.
That day was the best day I have had in years! I was so happy to give the vaccines to all of the healthcare providers who have given so much of themselves during the pandemic. It was an emotional and rewarding day as I listened to their stories and as they expressed their gratitude to reach this milestone.
The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) is leading the State of New Mexico’s COVID-19 vaccination planning and implementation in close collaboration with other state agencies, as well as public, private and tribal partners throughout the state.
The DOH choose the UNM indoor athletic venue, affectionately known as the "PIT" as the largest vaccination site for the Albuquerque area. Currently open Wednesday thru Saturday administering 2,000 vaccines a day.
Our role as the UNM College of Nursing is to support the DOH by filling those vital volunteer roles at the PIT. It’s not just our BSN students volunteering. Faculty, leadership, staff and graduate students are stepping up too. Not everyone is administering the vaccine as there are many roles for volunteers. It is a true team effort from the staff who coordinate and provides PPE to the scribes.
The vaccine events are far more than just vaccines for our BSN students. They are a clinical learning experience. Students are improving their communication skills – calming patient fears, answering questions and guiding them through the process.
75 level 4 and 70 level 2 BSN students from Albuquerque and Rio Rancho campus BSN students volunteered at The Pit and UNM Hospitals vaccination events. A total of 145 students!
Students, faculty and staff are participating in vaccination efforts throughout New Mexico.
The UNM College of Nursing joined more than 70 nursing schools across the nation in the COVID-19 Community Engagement Pledge led by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. We commit to deploying students, faculty and staff to support vaccination efforts, conduct contact tracing and provide other key services across New Mexico.
Eight level 5 Dual Degree BSN students from the CNM campus joined by their faculty supervisor, Michael F Shannon, participated in the Albuquerque Police Community COVID-19 Vaccination event on March 11th. Together with a team of volunteers, the clinic provided over 250 vaccines.
All level 4 students from Albuquerque and Rio Rancho campuses in the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters are assisting with COVID Calls in partnership between the UNM Office of Community Health, Aging & Long-Term Services, and the New Mexico Department of Health. They are also participating in the UNM Student Health and Counceling's (SHAC’s) COVID Call Center.
Indian Health Services (IHS) requested UNM College of Nursing partnership and of course we jumped at the opportunity to serve this population. We have since participated in several vaccination events.
Four level 2 BSN students joined by their faculty supervisor, Laura Vanyo, participated in the First Nations Community HealthSource COVID-19 Vaccination event on Saturday, February 13th. Together with a team of volunteers, the clinic provided over 570 vaccines. Our students and faculty providing 25 vaccines each on average, along with helping supporting event logistics.
Laura Vanyo returned with new BSN Level 2 students on March 13th to provide the 2nd dose, giving other students the ability to make a difference in the community.
I had a busy week of work that week – even graded all day on Sunday – but Saturday at the vaccination event didn’t feel like work at all. I felt so useful and empowered. Rather than sitting and worrying about the pandemic we were able to make a real difference.
We supported IHS at the Native American Pueblo of Acoma-Canoncito-Laguna - Service Unit Vaccination Event on March 6th with 3 faculty, 13 level 2 BSN students and 8 level 1 BSN students. The Level 2 students gave first dose Moderna vaccines and the Level 1 students assisted in registration. The event is delivered 900+ vaccines to the community in one day.
We returned on April 7th with 13 students and 2 faculty members - Loren Kelly and Kristen Ostrem - to provide the second dose.
The First Nations Community HealthSource COVID-19 Vaccination event was an empowering and humbling experience. I felt so honored to have the opportunity to administer the first round of vaccines to this community. I hope in the future I can have many more experiences like I did at First Nations and I encourage everyone to participate if given the opportunity.
It is not just vaccines that we are supporting, all 71 of our level 5 nursing students at the Albuquerque and Rio Rancho campuses are assisting with Navajo Nation contact tracing efforts through COPE (Community Outreach & Patient Empowerment). Around 12 students participate from home each weekend.
Nursing students and faculty at UNM Hospitals vaccination event.
Level 2 nursing students administering vaccines at the Native American Pueblo of Acoma-Canoncito-Laguna - Service Unit Vaccination Event on March 6th.
“Getting to see and partake in the hard work that goes on behind the scenes at vaccine clinics was eye-opening and remarkable. This experience reaffirmed my decision to be a nurse as it was a joy to be able to be able to interact and work safely with these great individuals in order to make an impact in the community by providing direct care and health education,” Emmanuelle Obeng, Level 1 BSN student.
Taking a break from a busy day at the Native American Pueblo of Acoma-Canoncito-Laguna - Service Unit Vaccination Event on March 6th.
“Working at a pop-up vaccine clinic in rural New Mexico, I was faced with unfamiliar challenges. By the end of the 9-hour shift, I had recorded walking 11.3 miles in the unforgiving sun, on a dirt road which we used as a waiting area to distribute documentation. Despite our shared discomfort by the end of the day, every single team member was ready to do it all again, inspired by the gracious and uplifting attitudes of each person we were helping to vaccinate,”BSN level 1 student Ethan Martinez.
Faculty and students waiting to administer the vaccine at the Native American Pueblo of Acoma-Canoncito-Laguna - Service Unit Vaccination Event on March 6th.
There is a lot more to distributing a vaccine then just the shot itself. These students and faculty are preparing the registration table for a busy day.
Sophia Sagert, BSN level 1 student from Rio Rancho Campus, reflects on her experience “I heard nothing but wonderful things from the students. For some this was their first opportunity to see the process of a vaccination clinic. Mostly we were so pleased to be of zoom and get a chance to get some hands-on experience. I also loved meeting my fellow classmates and interacting with everyone from main campus.”
Level 2 nursing students administered the 2nd dose of COVID-19 vaccines to the community at First Nations Community HealthSource this past Saturday, March 13th.
“We had an amazing time and really got to know the community while administering Covid-19 vaccines. And the best part was, we had fun doing it,” Jessie Rose Rodríguez reflects on her experience with her classmates Ricardo Pérez, Justin Sorrellguertin, Jana Pruitt and faculty Laura Vanyo pictured here.
The UNM College of Nursing joined more than 70 nursing schools across the nation in the COVID-19 Community Engagement Pledge led by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
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Christina O’Connell, class of 1996 and current DNP student, is the director of “The Pit” COVID-19 clinic for the next few months.
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A University of New Mexico College of Nursing research team is partnering with Sandia National Laboratories to explore the impact of COVID-19 outbreaks on hospital surge capacities through computer modeling and advanced data analytics.
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