Mock COVID Testing 1

Observation

Today I had the opportunity to participate in a mock COVID testing drive through. Everyone

that has a Thursday community clinical was there and split off into groups of 5-6. Within those groups

we had the chance to register the patients coming to get tested for COVID, give each patient a visit

form to fill out, take their vital signs and identify any abnormalities related to them, screen them for

signs and symptoms related to COVID and determine what station they should go to next, and

test/teach the patient about what their results were and what measures needed to be taken. In the

beginning everyone was a little confused about how it would work and what our roles were, but after

we saw our first patient at each station it all made more sense. Everyone worked well together and we

all took turns assuming the different roles. It was a great learning experience for us.

The Community

Objective 1, “describe the community as a setting for all the levels of health care delivery

needed to screen for COVID symptoms while participating in a drive through community testing site”,

was the first objective met. It was important for us “nurses” to identify the symptoms of COVID and

be able to differentiate between COVID symptoms and symptoms of a cold or maybe the flu. In order

to do so, there were a series of questions that needed to be asked to identify which patients were at risk

of having COVID and needed to be tested. It was also important to look at each individual and

consider their circumstances before making any decisions.

Culture

Objective 2, “relates cultural components to illness, wellness and health as assessed in clients

during community health drive thru testing during a pandemic”, was the second objective that was met.

Whenever you’re out in the community you see many different people from different cultures and

ethnic groups. It’s important to be aware of this and to approach each patient in a nonbiased way. It’s
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important that to be culturally competent in order provide individualized care for them that will be able

to benefit them the most.

Collaboration

Objective 3, “use collaborative group dynamics and group process when preparing, performing,

and participating in group activities”, was met as well. This objective was met because my group as a

whole would establish roles at each station and after seeing each patient, we would rotate so each

person had the opportunity to assume the roles needed at a particular station. Sometimes we would

split off into groups of 2 or 3 and work within those smaller groups to care for a patient.

Communication and Teaching

Objective 4, “demonstrates communication, critical thinking and teaching skills in the care of

clients during community health drive thru testing during a pandemic”, was also met. This objective

was met because us individuals in our groups had to communicate with one another in order to assure

that the patients driving through were receiving the best care. We communicated with one another to

see who was going to assist the patient coming up in the next car and we used critical thinking in order

to determine what station the patient should go to next and if they should get tested or not. We

educated the patients at station 6 (teaching station) and 7 (nurse practitioner station) about what to do if

they were positive, which was to isolate, and if they were negative but may have been exposed, which

was to quarantine. We also taught them what measures needed to be taken in order for them to get

better.

Reflection

The mock COVID testing drive through was a great experience. I think it imitated a real

COVID testing drive through center pretty well. It definitely put me in a situation that made me feel

more confident in my ability to be able to respond rapidly to an emergency situation. I do think some
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changes could have been made to make it run a little smoother and more efficiently. I think that maybe

the first few stations could have been combined into one station because they were all pretty repetitive

and at any of those stations they were able to be sent to the nurse practitioner station. I also think that

groups at certain stations weren’t completing their responsibilities, so the patients were being sent to

the next stations without all of the information needed for the next group to be able to preform their

tasks. Overall, I think it was a successful clinical experience in helping prepare us students for

situations like this that may occur in our careers.