Missouri Nurse - April 2021

April, May, June 2021 Missouri Nursing News 5
The COVID-19 vaccine rollout has led to a
surge in the need for logistical coordination and
communication, especially in rural areas. Informatics
will facilitate speedy coordination in vaccine distribution
and administration to millions of Americans to help
gain control of the deadly virus. Vaccine distribution
can be streamlined to track vaccinated patients,
schedule second doses, locate and assign nurses
trained in vaccine administration, and collaborate with
local administrations to identify burdens in distribution.
While it is easy to look at my Aunt Lillian’s short life
as a tragic “what if” story, it is more important to look
at her life and death as a cautionary tale. The townpurchased
iron lung that was never used due to lack
of expertise has resided in a museum in Kansas for the
past several decades. It has occasionally been displayed
at state fairs to educate the public on the need for
vaccinations. Now, after a year of the COVID-19
pandemic ravaging communities, hope has arrived
in the form of multiple vaccines that can be used to
thwart this deadly virus. But vaccines, like iron lungs,
are only effective when they are used. Stories have
emerged of vaccine doses simply being left on shelves
and in refrigerators or thrown away due to lack of
tracking protocols and shortages of personnel. We can
and must avoid creating another museum relic.
The use of informatics by highly trained nurses
has never been more important or vital, especially
as distribution and administration of the vaccines is
stalled. We have developed the tools to fight this
virus. We must now quickly develop the personnel and
tactics to take up the fight. That starts with nurses
trained in the use of informatics and analytics. Armed
with data and logistics training, nurse informaticists
are learning from history and vital to the future success
of the COVID-19 vaccination plan, distribution, and
administration.
Bonny's mother in 2019 visiting the museum in
Kansas that houses Lillian's unused iron long.
Lillian in her Iron Lung at the hospital with
Bonny's mother (the 3-year-old in the picture
holding one of Lillian's dolls), and Lillian's Mom).
We are looking for LPNs
in Springfield and Bolivar
$17/hr for part time
For more information and to apply visit
https://easylivinginc.org