More than 65 NDSU upper level students in nursing and in pharmacy have volunteered to assist the North Dakota Department of Health with COVID-19 mass testing in Fargo from August 18 to 23.
Fargo Cass County Public Health assisted NDSU School of Nursing and School of Pharmacy to ensure individual masks for volunteers were tested to fit properly with a tight seal to provide protection. The training prepares upper level nursing students and pharmacy students to safely assist with the testing events.
“I volunteered because I want to do everything I can in order to help students at NDSU stay safe during these uncertain times,” said Aaron Peckskamp, a senior in nursing. “I am hoping to learn ways to help me and others stay safe during this pandemic. Any sort of extra training will benefit me as I enter into a career of nursing.”
Nancy Turrubiates, MSN, RN, lecturer and public health clinical coordinator in the NDSU School of Nursing, is one of the faculty members coordinating the efforts of students.
“My hope is that students see what it takes to partake in a mass screening event—the collaboration efforts between the university, county and state in order to identify people who may need to isolate or quarantine,” said Turrubiates. “Testing is an important part of public health and mitigation efforts.”
All student volunteers are supervised by a faculty member or a preceptor such as a North Dakota Department of Health nurse. Students volunteering were fitted for personal protection equipment and provided with education and training on proper procedure and technique.
Upper level nursing and pharmacy students who volunteered have been properly identified, screened and trained to assist with swabbing under supervision of faculty and North Dakota State Health Department staff.
“We are living through a time that public health concepts and training are so needed. I hope this opportunity will not only bring more interest into public health, but also emphasize how important public health education and interventions are needed every day of every year,” said Turrubiates.
“The School of Nursing recognized that this collaborative effort was much needed,” said Turrubiates. “Not only do our nursing and pharmacy students benefit from experiential learning opportunities, the community as a whole will benefit from additional screenings for COVID-19.”
Upper level pharmacy students have also volunteered and trained to assist.
“I want to spend some of my future practice traveling to specific populations to provide health care; this mass testing helps provide a glimpse of that,” said Taylor Bengtson, third-year pharmacy student.
Bengtson notes the role of pharmacists in their practices continues to expand. “I want to use this opportunity to learn even more about COVID-19, how it affects an overall younger population, and how to implement these testing skills in my future practice,” explained Bengtson.
“I learn best from hands-on experiences occurring outside the classroom. Although lectures are important in creating a foundation, I find personal experiences better solidify this information, broaden connections, and provide real-time practice of these skills,” said Bengtson.
“Pharmacies across the state of North Dakota are becoming more involved in screening for COVID-19 patients,” said Elizabeth Skoy, PharmD., associate professor in the NDSU School of Pharmacy who is helping to coordinate students.
“Pharmacy students learn how to provide point-of-care screenings and sample collection, so this is an opportunity for students to serve the state and utilize their skills,” said Skoy.
“The collaboration between nursing and pharmacy illustrates the commitment of the NDSU College of Health Professions to interprofessional education, helping students prepare to work together as members of the health care team,” said Charles D. Peterson, dean of NDSU’s College of Health Professions.
In the Fall of 2020, senior NDSU nursing students will continue to assist with COVID-19 screenings.
In addition, more than 30 NDSU Public Health graduate students and recent graduates also have been trained as contact tracers to assist the North Dakota Department of Health during the pandemic. Another 50 students in Health Professions are being sought for contact tracing positions. Other NDSU Master of Public Health students have helped perform COVID-19 antibody testing.
The NDSU College of Health Professions educates students in pharmacy, nursing, public health, medical laboratory science, respiratory care, diagnostic medical sonography, radiography, echocardiography, and health services to serve the region’s need for a highly skilled and compassionate healthcare workforce.
As a student focused, land grant, research university, we serve our citizens.