Healthcare Facilities: Have You Made a Vaccine Plan?

Since December 14, 2020, healthcare facilities across the country have begun administering the COVID-19 vaccine. By mid-January 2021, about 10 million people received the first dose of the vaccine. Manufacturers are confident they will continue to distribute samples of the vaccine regularly, so, in the coming months, the vaccine is intended to become even more accessible to the public. With this expansion of accessibility, hospitals and departments of health will need the support of a full staff to administer vaccines as quickly and safely as possible to successfully accomplish the widespread vaccination plan. 

This vaccination plan will include safety protocols and procedures along with distribution schedules and initiatives. With so much anticipation and speculation surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine, there must be a plan in place to ensure a successful and safe vaccine administration and observation for side effects. 

A critical element of this vaccine plan is to consider the workforce necessary to administer the vaccine and observe the side effects while also caring for sick patients. 

Millions of Nurses in the US Providing Patient Care 

Currently, there are more than 3.8 million registered nurses (RNs) in the United States. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, nurses make up the largest healthcare workforce component. They are the primary care providers in hospitals and deliver most of the nation's long-term care.

Despite nurses making up such a large portion of the healthcare workforce, we've seen the effects of an understaffed hospital during critical times. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses have worked countless hours as patient counts have surged and the demand for nurses increased. As we move into the pandemic's vaccination phase, nurses will now be responsible for administering the vaccine, monitoring patients, and continuing their regular duties as a healthcare provider.

When you consider the responsibilities already under these nurses' purview, it's crucial to factor this element into your facility's vaccine plan and evaluate how to best support your staff.  

Travel Nurses can Provide Support during Vaccine Administration 

Of the 3.8 million RNs in the US, about 25,000 are travel nurses who work on contracted assignments worldwide. These nurses are fully licensed and experienced healthcare workers, and they can be a significant asset to facilities facing nurse shortages or an overwhelming number of patients. 

Advantis Medical is Equipped to Support Your Facilities 

If your vaccine plan includes supporting your facilities staff with temporary contractors, Advantis Medical has the resources to connect you to fully certified travel nursing professionals.  

Our travel nursing agency has a network of travel nurses, including RNs and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), who have all been thoroughly vetted and evaluated. These nurses are available to assist with COVID-19 screenings as well as vaccine administration. We work with a range of facilities, including hospitals, state and county departments of health, nursing facilities, outpatient clinics, and ambulatory surgery centers.

If your staff is looking for short-term support for distributing the COVID-19 vaccine, please contact us at 972-456-9723 or callison@advantismed.com. We are here to help.