Community collaboration: Nursing students help Kalamazoo County expand flu clinic offerings

KALAMAZOO, Mich.— In the fall of 2024, a community collaboration unfolded between Western Michigan University nursing students and the Kalamazoo County Flu Clinic. This partnership was designed to give senior-level students experiences in teamwork and community engagement. 

For years, staffing off-site flu clinics had been a challenge for the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services (KCHCS). Each off-site clinic required multiple KCHCS staff to leave their primary duties, reducing the on-site clinic staff who are needed meet the community's daily needs for walk-in immunizations. However, this season brought a refreshing change. 

Led by Master Faculty Specialist, Dawn Smith, a collaboration was established with the students in the WMU Bronson School of Nursing’s population-based nursing course (NUR 4310) which allowed KCHCS to fully staff both on-site and off-site clinics. This partnership provided the community with a much-needed resource to obtain their seasonal respiratory vaccines.  

During the 2023-24 season, KCHCS only offered four off-site clinics. But with the help of the nursing students, the 2024-25 season saw a significant increase, with 10 off-site clinics successfully conducted. Together, WMU nursing students and KCHCS nurses administered 1,060 vaccinations. The county says the increase would not have been possible without the availability and dedication of Professor Smith and the nursing students. 

According to supervisors, the students were well prepared and eager to assist at each clinic, gaining invaluable real-world practice and insight into the impact of public health services. Supervisors say their presence alleviated the staffing strain on KCHCS, enabling the provision of more services to the community.  

"If the students that we have had the past two years are an indication of the quality of nursing students graduating from (Western’s) program, I know that the future of health care is gaining skilled, compassionate and professional nurses,” says Julie Gower, KCHCS public health specialist. “We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate." 

The hope is to continue this collaboration in the future, further enhancing the community's health and well-being. 

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