Nursing students pitch in on shots

FAYETTEVILLE — About two dozen University of Arkansas, Fayetteville student nurses helped at a Wednesday covid-19 vaccination event on campus and about 36 were expected to administer vaccines at another campus event for workers, a university spokesman said Friday.

The director of UA’s nursing school praised the students’ effort.

“The students are excited about participating in this huge public health effort and collaborating with pharmacists and pharmacy students. I was very proud of their professionalism and how efficient they were in administering a large number of vaccines,” Susan Patton, director of UA’s Eleanor Mann School of Nursing, said in a statement Friday.

After the Wednesday event — during which student nurses also were vaccinated — the university planned to hold a larger-scale vaccination Saturday for workers.

The vaccine requires two doses administered weeks apart.

Students involved are working as part of their clinical training, said Kelsey Gilmet, a UA nursing instructor, though she said some students are volunteering on their personal time to take part.

Margo Leavitt, a 22-yearold senior nursing student from Fayetteville, helped at the event Wednesday.

“Honestly, it’s a fun position to be in, to be giving a covid vaccine to someone,” Leavitt said, describing those getting the shots Wednesday as “very excited and just thrilled to be given the opportunity” to get vaccinated.

“It really is a part of history,” she added.