Renegade Nursing Students Volunteer at Bakersfield Heart Hospital Vaccine Clinic

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

As vaccination clinics are underway, Bakersfield College's third semester Registered Nursing students have volunteered to help staff the clinic at Bakersfield Heart Hospital. The clinic, which will continue for the next 10 weeks is currently operating to vaccinate people eligible in Phase 1a, tiers 1-3. BC's RN students assisting at the vaccination clinic are serving as screeners, providing injections, and monitoring participants for complications.

Alisha Loken, BC's Nursing Department Chair and Professor of Nursing says students were eager to volunteer. “Within one hour of the request, BC's third semester RN students had filled all requested spots,” she said. “We are so proud to be doing our part for the community, as Renegades and as a vital part of the healthcare system, to assist with this important vaccine rollout, to stop the spread, and begin the ending of such a challenging pandemic.”

Bakersfield Heart Hospital has also offered the vaccine to all of the students volunteering to work at the clinics. Students who worked at the clinic yesterday received their first vaccine dose. BC's RN students will be volunteering with the clinic for the duration of the Spring 2021 semester.