NYC Health + Hospitals today announced its partnership with the City University of New York (CUNY) that will provide 984 nursing students to help support the system’s COVID-19 vaccination operation. Supervised by CUNY faculty, students will be assigned throughout the system’s 11 hospitals and Gotham Health community-based clinics to support vaccine operations.
Their responsibilities will include clerical tasks, management of workflows, appointment logistics, vaccine administration, and monitoring required observation periods after patients receive their injection. The students will begin being deployed across the system this week.
Time spent in vaccine clinics throughout the system will contribute to nursing and health professions students’ required clinical hours as part of their education.
The number of nursing students might increase depending on eligibility and demand for vaccines increases in the coming weeks.
“NYC Health + Hospitals is eternally grateful for the support we’ve received from partners, like CUNY, through this pandemic that has sourced additional hands to help save lives,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Vice President and System Chief Nurse Executive Natalia Cineas, DNP, RN, NEA-BC. “We are confident the support from these students will further facilitate swift and safe workflow as vaccine supply increases and eligibility expands.”
“CUNY’s health professional students are proud to support our partner, NYC Health + Hospitals, on local vaccine administration to help stop the pandemic in New York City,” said CUNY University Dean for Health and Human Services, Patricia Simino Boyce, Ph.D., RN. “Our students – and our University – value the opportunity to serve at this important time.”
In order to be able to support the vaccine operations within NYC Health + Hospitals, students are required to undergo competency checks and compete for specific online training modules that include “COVID-19 Vaccine: Training for Pfizer & Moderna Vaccine Administration,” and “COVID-19 Vaccination Training for RNs & LPNs.”
They will also be required to complete the system’s new employee orientation and review the general compliance/HIPAA regulations.
The ability to utilize CUNY students in this capacity came after a State Department of Health Executive Order allowed students to help with operations.
CUNY students are scheduled to stay on with the public health system to support vaccine operations through the spring 2021 academic semester.
NYC Health + Hospitals continues its commitment to help vaccinate the most vulnerable New Yorkers against the Coronavirus. According to the eligibility policy of the State, the public health system is vaccinating New Yorkers over 65 years of age, as well as essential workers, and people with certain co-morbidities.
To find a vaccine site near you and make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine, visit https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/.
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs.
A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agencies, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals.
Its diverse workforce of more than 42,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible.
For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org
Photo credit: nurses with Mayor Bill de Blasio.
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