College Nursing Students To Share Coronavirus Experiences

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — More than 80 Rowan College at Burlington County nursing students have answered the call for current and future healthcare professionals to help combat the outbreak of new coronavirus.

Nicole Pacitti and David Paul are among them. Pacitti is a junior in Rowan College at Burlington County’s Nursing program. She volunteers her time at the county’s call center, while Paul, a senior Nursing student, assists with coronavirus testing.

They will tell their stories during this week’s Facebook Town Hall at noon Wednesday. Viewers can submit questions throughout the livestream and at rcbc.edu/coronavirus.

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A recent analysis by ProPublica shows that Camden area hospitals are projected to run out of beds for patients in some hospitals if the number of infected people rises by even a few hundred.

State officials are exploring options for reopening the Inspira hospital in Woodbury for patients, but with the influx of patients and the possibility of health care workers becoming infected with coronavirus, hospitals are issuing call outs for future health care professionals and retired nurses.

Pacitti and Paul will tell their stories from the front lines during Rowan College at Burlington County’s third Facebook Town Hall. The college launched the series to help the public learn more about the virus.

The first two sessions explored the impact of coronavirus on mental health and provided insight into the pandemic from Dr. Helene Paxton, who teaches Microbiology, and Anatomy and Physiology at the college.