RNRN calls on more volunteers to help administer vaccines

Nurse volunteers from the Registered Nurse Response Network (RNRN)—a disaster-relief project of the California Nurses Foundation (CNF) and National Nurses United (NNU)—have been vaccinating the South Los Angeles community for the past six weeks at the Kedren Community Health Center, in partnership with International Medical Corps. The clinic has now been extended through the end of May.

RNRN is calling on registered nurse volunteers to assist at the clinic. Interested RNs can sign up to volunteer for the vaccine team here. RNRN registered nurses and nurse practitioners are part of a team that includes International Medical Corps and community volunteers as well as Kedren clinic staff to administer Covid-19 vaccines to the historically underserved South Los Angeles Community.

Since March 1, RNRN has deployed six teams of volunteers to assist with the administration of more than 66,000 Covid-19 vaccines in South Los Angeles so far. A seventh team of RNRN nurses began volunteering this week.

To interview an RNRN nurse or for photos, please contact press@nationalnursesunited.org.

“As nurses working on the front lines of the pandemic, we have seen communities devastated by Covid-19,” said Sandy Reding, an RN at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital and president of California Nurses Association, who vaccinated South Los Angeles community members in March. “The vaccine clinic brings hope. It is so heartwarming to be a part of the proactive side of the pandemic.”

“We saw multigenerational families from all backgrounds and cultures in the community coming to the clinic — adult sons and daughters bringing their parents and grandparents,” noted Mo Berry, a retired UC Irvine nurse, who volunteered at the clinic in March. “Everyone is so thankful to be vaccinated. This was such a wonderful experience, and I am proud to be a part of NNU’s work to address the historic inequities that have adversely affected underserved communities for so long.”

“The clinical services provided by RNRN volunteers have been key to our vaccination efforts,” said Rebecca Milner, Chief Advancement Officer for International Medical Corps. “Their support has enabled us to reach communities that have been unduly affected by Covid-19, and fill a critical need for vaccines.”

“Providing free and equitable access to the vaccine is such an important step in defeating the pandemic,” said Jean Ross, RN and president of NNU. “We are so proud of our RNRN volunteers who are helping to vaccinate thousands of people in underserved communities.”

RNRN, a project of NNU and the California Nurses Foundation and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is a national network of direct-care RNs powered by National Nurses United that coordinates sending volunteer RNs to disaster-stricken areas where and when they are needed. Interested RNs can sign up here to volunteer.