Running Head: COMMUNITY JOURNAL: COVID-19 DRIVE THRU 1

Community Journal: COVID-19 Drive Thru

Madyson Pickett

The Centofanti School of Nursing, Youngstown State University

Susan Kearns

October 5th, 2021

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COMMUNITY JOURNAL: COVID-19 DRIVE THRU
On Tuesday I participated in the mock COVID drive thru on campus. This was a

wonderful way for the students to learn about the process of a testing drive thru. In the future

when we become registered nurses, we will be prepared to go out in the field to take part in an

actual testing drive thru if we choose to do so. Not only can we take part in the testing process

but give suggestions to the higher authority on how to set things up to keep the system running

smoothly and effectively as possible, since we have now completed the process ourselves.

We arrived at the location and helped prepare for the upcoming day. It was essential to

work as a team, not only setting up equipment and taking it down, but throughout the entire

experience as well. Everyone must work together in order for the entire process to work

effectively and get people moving through stations in a timely manner. There were about seven

students to a group and each member needed to have a position in that station, whether it was

interacting with the patient or cleaning utensils being used repeatedly. All members must

communicate within each group, as well as to other groups to make sure each patient is being

taken through the process smoothly. If no one communicates, that stresses out the patient,

especially if they are unsure of where to go. It is essential to be communicating with the patient

the entire time as well, so they are aware of what is going on at each station and how the system

flows. Toward the end of the drive thru there was a station for educating the patient about

COVID including symptoms, how to prevent it, and what to do if you have it. The patients were

taught by the students and given a paper to take home with them that contained all the necessary

information to make sure they are safe when it comes to COVID-19. At the last station there is

typically a nurse practitioner available to chat with if the patient comes through with COVID.

However, this semester students oversaw the last station and the teaching that was involved with

it. If the patient came through and was showing severe symptoms, they were sent straight to the
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COMMUNITY JOURNAL: COVID-19 DRIVE THRU
nurse practitioner to be seen. There, the practitioner, or student in this case, educates the patient

about the severity of their symptoms and often refers them to go to the emergency room. A few

of the severe and alarming symptoms a patient may show include shortness of breath and chest

pain. The virus is so unknown so anything severe that interferes with the cardiac or respiratory

systems is a serious concern.

If this were a real screening, having this drive thru at the university makes it easily

accessible to patients in the community. It is a great location to have the drive thru, so people

would be able to easily locate the event. It is in a location that is close for people in the

community rather than driving to a testing center located far away. For elderly patient’s and

other patients that are underprivileged, having the screening at a well-known location is easier

because they do not have the resources and knowledge about technology/GPS, or may not have

access to a vehicle that can tolerate a long driving distance.

During the experience, it is crucial to make sure the workers are wearing appropriate

personal protective equipment (PPE) which includes masks, gloves, goggles, and gowns if you

are performing the test. Also, ensure that your patient has a facemask on to protect the staff from

any air particles that may come from them. This PPE is necessary to protect all individuals

involved. Not only is it important to ask the patient to wear a mask to protect yourself and them,

but to have the patient put their car in park when they get to the station. The first thing when the

patient’s pulled up in their car was to tell them through the passenger side window to place the

car in park. Once they did this, it was safe for students to walk in front of the car to approach the

patient on his/her side. It only takes a tiny movement of an individual’s foot to cause a critical

accident in seconds. This was a wonderful event to be a part of and I would love to do it again in

the future if I am ever given the chance, as a student or even a practicing nurse out in the field.