College nursing students help administer thousands of COVID-19 vaccines

Uvalde, TX, January 25, 2021 - More than 75 SWTJC vocational nursing and associate degree nursing students have assisted with vaccinations in Carrizo Springs, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and Uvalde since Jan. 20.

According to Amanda Hadley, SWTJC Director of Vocational Nursing, the nursing students have had difficulty complying with the required clinical hours needed to complete the nursing program.

“Due to the pandemic, it has been difficult for us to find clinical experiences for our students,” said Hadley. I reached out to Uvalde Memorial Hospital, letting them know that our students are ready, and we are willing to assist.”

Denise McWilliams, RN, Uvalde Memorial Hospital Infection Control Director, contacted Hadley two weeks ago, accepting their help with the vaccinations.

College nursing students assisted in administering approximately 1,000 COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday (Jan. 20) and about 600 vaccines on Friday, Jan. 22, at the Sgt. Willie De Leon Civic Center in Uvalde.

In Eagle Pass, nursing students helped vaccinate approximately 1,300 people at the International Center for Trade on Jan. 21 and 22, while in Del Rio, about 1,000 doses were administered at the Del Rio Civic Center on Saturday (Jan. 23). Other college nursing students aided the Dimmit Regional Hospital staff in Carrizo Springs on Friday (Jan. 22) to administer approximately 300 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Johnny Guzman, SWTJC Dean of Applied Sciences and Workforce Education, was grateful to the medical institutions that allowed the college nursing students to administer the COVID-19 vaccines.

“I can’t thank the folks at the different hospitals enough for allowing our students to help with the vaccinations,” said Guzman. “This allows our students to get real-world experience and satisfies their clinical requirement to complete the nursing program at SWTJC.”

In addition, SWTJC Director of Associate Degree in Nursing Program Rolando Lira was astonished at the collaboration among the different entities involved in the vaccination clinics.

Lira said, “To witness the partnerships and collaboration among local organizations to combat the threat of COVID-19 in our community is amazing.”

The vaccine clinics were coordinated by multiple groups, including Uvalde Memorial Hospital in Uvalde; Valverde Medical Regional Center, Del Rio; Emergency Operations Center, Eagle Pass, and Dimmit Regional Hospital in Carrizo Springs.

SWTJC nursing students are expected to continue helping administer vaccines throughout the area in the coming days.

View more photos from the vaccine clinics.