University of South Carolina Nursing Faculty and Students Recognized for Administering Mass COVID-19 Vaccines

The nursing school's efforts 'reflect the true spirit of nursing and of the NP profession,' American Association of Nurse Practitioners president said.

Students and faculty of the University of South Carolina (UofSC) College of Nursing were honored by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners^® (AANP) for their "life-saving assistance," for the thousands of volunteer hours they spend administering COVID-19 vaccines to South Carolinians.

April N. Kapu, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FCCM, FAAN, president of AANP, presented an AANP certificate of recognition to the college of nursing's faculty and students.

"University of South Carolina nursing students and faculty have volunteered nearly 7,000 hours of service to vaccinate South Carolinians at COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics across the state," Kapu said at the ceremony in Columbia, South Carolina.

"Their commitment, compassion, and courage in the face of an unprecedented public health crisis reflect the true spirit of nursing and of the NP profession," she said. "We cannot thank them enough for their life-saving assistance to patients, and we want them to know how proud they have made our nation's NPs.

"These students, and faculty mentors, represent the very best of nursing and of the NP profession. Their dedication during a public health crisis gives me every confidence in the future of health care and the nursing profession."

At the start of UofSC's spring semester in January 2021, the College of Nursing launched a massive effort to support statewide vaccinations. The first 51 students arrived on the opening day of the Prisma Health Midlands vaccination site, according to the university.

Based on the overwhelming demand for vaccinations, 670 UofSC nursing students and 66 faculty members answered the call, the university said, delivering vaccines at nine Midlands vaccination sites and volunteering 6,839 hours.