Baylor nursing steps up to aid Waco COVID-19 vaccination efforts

With COVID-19 vaccine distribution increasing each day, there’s finally a light at the end of the tunnel — and Baylor nursing students are helping that light shine even brighter.

This spring, 120 senior-level, second-semester nursing students (and faculty, too) from the Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) are helping administer the COVID-19 Moderna vaccine here in McLennan County. Each Thursday, these future nurses and their instructors drive down from Dallas to volunteer at the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District’s vaccination clinics.

“At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was extremely afraid and overwhelmed with fear,” says senior Libby Bugg. “I was doubting my ability and confidence to be a part of the frontlines and battle this virus head on. But through encouragement of the nursing school faculty and their confidence in me, I was able to turn my fear into motivation and excitement to become a part of history and do my part to put an end to the coronavirus.”

“I see this as a great opportunity to apply the nursing skills I have learned and to be able to serve our community,” adds senior Everly Zhao. “Baylor nurses carry strong values and beliefs for patient care, so being able to immerse myself in the Baylor culture in this way will help me build an even bigger heart for nursing.”

Moving forward, LHSON also plans to assist with vaccination clinics at Baylor Scott & White Health in Dallas and Plano, Parkland Hospital in Dallas, and several other DFW hospitals.

Sic ’em, Baylor nursing students!

[BONUS: Dr. Lynn Prater, clinical professor at LHSON, takes us inside Baylor nursing’s work on the front lines of COVID-19 vaccination efforts in a recent “Baylor Connections” podcast.]