COVID-19 hospitalizations drop to 600 in Iowa – KCCI Des Moines

OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE NATION HAVE GRADUATED FROM NURSING PROGRAMS NEWLY PREPARED TO FIGHT THE CORONAVIRUS. 98 GRADUATED THIS MONTH FROM THE DMACC PROGRAM. NONE OF THEM EVEN CONSIDERED A PANDEMIC WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED SCHOOL. BUT KCCI’S KAYLA JAMES TALKED WITH ONE NEW GRADUATE WHO’S READY TO DO HER PART KAYLA: WHAT STARTED AS A DREAM TO ACHIEVE IN HIGH SCHOOL. >> THAT’S WHEN I GOT MY CERTIFICATION TO BE ABLE TO WORK AT A HOSPITAL. KAYLA: BECAME A REALITY THIS DECEMBER FOR KYLA CAZETT, WHEN SHE AND NEARLY 100 OTHERS GRADUATED FROM DMACC’S NURSING PROGRAM DURING A TIME HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE BATTLING THE CORONAVIRUS. >> IF ANYTHING, THIS IS THE TIME THEY NEED NURSES EVEN MORE. KAYLA: THE NUMBER OF LICENSED NURSES WORKING IN IOWA HAS INCREASED STEADILY OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS, WITH MORE THAN 51,000 EMPLOYED AT THE TIME OF THE IOWA BOARD OF NURSING’S MOST RECENT COUNT IN JUNE. >> WE SEE COVID PATIENTS EVERY DAY. KAYLA: CAZETT CURRENTLY WORKS AS AN ER PATIENT CARE TECH. SHE’S ALREADY SEEN HER FAIR SHARE OF THE WHAT THE PANDEMIC CAN DO AS PATIENTS COME THROUGH THE DOORS. >> I NEVER KNOW FROM THE ER WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM AFTER THAT. SO I THINK ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE AND THEIR HARDSHIPS AND THEIR FAMILIES. KAYLA: CAZETT SAYS WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, THE DMACC PROGRAM’S CURRICULUM CONTINUED, BUT WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PATIENT EDUCATION DUE TO THE VIRUS. >> THAT’S A HUGE THING Y’KNOW. PEOPLE TAKE THIS VIRUS LIGHTLY AND SO BEING ABLE TO PROPERLY EDUCATE PEOPLE IS HUGE. KAYLA: EDUCATION. PATIENCE. POSITIVITY. >> WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. WE ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS. KAYLA: AND A SENSE OF TOGETHERNESS. ALL ARE WHAT CAZETT HOPES SHE CAN BRING TO THE TABLE NOW AND BEYOND. AND WHEN ASKED IF THE PANDEMIC EVER CAUSED HER TO QUESTION IF HER. >> I THINK MY PASSION FOR NURSING HAS ACTUALLY INCREASED SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGUN. KAYLA: KYLA CAZETT RESPONDS WITHOUT HESITATION. KAYLA JAMES, KCCI 8 NEWS IOWA’