A Collaborative Service to the Community: A COVID Vaccine Clinic Provided by a Mid-State University

Abstract

The opportunity to offer immediate service to a local community in need of an additional COVID Vaccine Clinic was welcomed by the School of Nursing (SON) at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). This opportunity not only opened a door by providing a much-needed community service but also afforded students an enriching opportunity to enhance their clinical skills in a venue not always recognized as an available or accessible resource. A COVID Vaccine Clinic was planned in collaboration with the School of Nursing, University Health Services, and the County Health Department to provide COVID vaccines to the Middle Tennessee area. A multidisciplinary committee met weekly to organize the COVID Vaccine Clinic opening this opportunity to the community two days per week. During the initial COVID Vaccine Clinic planning committee meetings, a variety of roles and responsibilities were identified to ensure the clinic would be planned, coordinated, and organized as efficiently as possible. When the clinic opened, weekly meetings continued to identify issues such as supply distribution problems, procedures related to various aspects of care, and debriefings describing the activities of each clinic day to note any areas in need of improvements. The School of Nursing Lobby, located on the MTSU campus, was the designated area chosen for the clinic. Many faculty and students along with numerous campus volunteers worked together enabling thousands of members of the community to receive vaccinations. The interdisciplinary experience was a success and served to bring positive learning outcomes to all members of the faculty and students involved.