NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion University’s nursing students are stepping up to save lives.
Since last month, 160 nursing students and faculty members have been vaccinating thousands of people in Hampton Roads. They answered a call for help from Sentara Healthcare to administer the COVID-19 vaccines. Students and faculty volunteered and took the online training.
“I had never been called a hero directly before, and I remember when we walked in that’s what the patients in line were saying,” said ODU nursing student Hannah Wheeler. “To have a patient directly say that to you was so motivating and was kind of the wind beneath my sails to keep going.”
“This is an opportunity for me to save some more lives, not just for the community, but for the state and the whole nation,” ODU nursing student Daniel Suh explained.
“It’s very important to me because I want to be that person to kind of be a leader in a sense for the African American community so that it will encourage [my community] not be so hesitant about it,” said ODU nursing student Aja Johnson. “I will say I was very encouraged by the African American turnout.”
ODU nursing students and staff will likely continue their partnership with Sentara Healthcare through the summer.
