Hartnell College helps fight COVID-19 with more than just medical supplies

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) With the demand for critical medical supplies increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hartnell College has announced the donation of such supplies to hospitals on the Central Coast.

So far 13 ventilators from Hartnell's respiratory care program along with masks, gowns and gloves have been donated.

Hartnell is also offering a helping hand with 88 Hartnell registered nursing students taking part in the state's new Health Corps group, which was announced on March 30 by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Debra Kaczmar, dean of academic affairs, nursing and allied health at Hartnell said the pressing demand for registered nursing help in non-COVID roles at SVMH will fulfill remaining clinical requirements for 2020 RN graduates and enable other students to continue their hands-on learning, despite COVID-19’s impact on classroom simulation. The students are at the hospital on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

“We’re incredibly fortunate, because many schools don’t have that, and their students have been displaced,” she said.

Vocational nursing students have been less fortunate, Kaczmar said, because local skilled-nursing facilities have restricted opportunities for them to accumulate patient-care hours at this time.

Nursing Student Lindsey Rodriguez has been working 14 hours a week at SVMH for the past two years. “We feel very grateful to be here because most of the students in California are not able to continue.”

Respiratory care students also have been displaced from clinical postings, but the program’s upcoming graduates already have sufficient experience to begin working, she said, and several have job waiting at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose.