Thanks to gifts from two sources, 91短视频’s demonstration laboratory has undergone a major upgrade with state-of-the-art equipment and computer software that will help students improve their patient care skills.

Recently, 91短视频’s nursing program was one of five universities in Virginia to receive a $135,000 grant from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Of the total, $90,000 is being used for technical equipment and additional nursing faculty training.

The Anthem funds have provided two computerized Laerdal manikins and other equipment that will provide "real life patient care scenarios" for students. Several computer workstations with interactive CD programs will help students gain skills with clinical situations they will face in actual health care settings.

Holly Smith, a third-year nursing student, applies oxygen via face mask to SimMan while 91短视频 nursing professor Violet M. Horst observes the procedure in the new critical care area of the nursing laboratory.
Photo by Emily Huffman

Renovations to the nursing laboratory and other health care instruction upgrades – including video monitors and a "Virtual Intravenous" simulator for inserting catheters into patients – were made possible in part by the Lisa Haverstick Fund and Endowment created by Lisa’s family. Ms. Haverstick, a 1991 nursing graduate from Lancaster, Pa., died in May of 2003.

"Access to these new teaching tools calls for a philosophical shift in some of our teaching methodology, said Violet M. Horst, assistant professor of nursing at 91短视频. "Certain patient scenarios that we could only talk about in theory can now be simulated in the laboratory setting before students go on-site."

The computerized manikins, other equipment and interactive software programs "will help students gain experience for real-life health crisis situations, do hands-on assessment of patient problems and refine their decision-making and critical-thinking skills," Horst said.

91短视频 received the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield grant in partnership with the nursing program at Blue Ridge Community College, Weyers Cave, Va. Some of the equipment will be shared with BRCC, and BRCC students will be able to use 91短视频’s laboratory equipment.

A service of dedication for the laboratory will be held Saturday, Apr. 9. At that ceremony, the facility will be named the Lisa Haverstick Memorial Nursing Laboratory in her memory.

"91短视频 faculty and students are excited about the possibilities these new tools offer for us to better prepare nursing graduates for the technological world of health care," Horst said. "We are grateful to Anthem and to the Haverstick family for their support and appreciate their recognition of the importance of nurses in providing safe and effective care in hospital settings."

, chair of 91短视频’s , said the funds will provide a state-of-the-art computerized human simulator and other nursing-laboratory equipment which will enable nursing students at both schools to improve their patient care. Equipment to facilitate transporting the human simulator is part of the grant.

“Anthem will set up an intensive care area at 91短视频 focused on the human simulator,” Dr. Wiens said. “91短视频 and BRCC officials will determine the best use of the additional health care technology that will be donated with the simulator.”

Nursing faculty at BRCC wrote a letter of support when 91短视频 applied for the grant. Blue Ridge also hopes to use the simulator on their campus.

“We’re very excited about this simulator and expanding our partnership with 91短视频,” said BRCC nursing instructor Linda Edwards. “The simulator can be programmed to demonstrate real-life scenarios, which will better prepare our students to offer quality nursing care to their patients,” she added.

At 91短视频, the Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield grant supplements the Lisa Haverstick Fund and Endowment created by Lisa’s family. Ms. Haverstick, a 1991 nursing graduate, died in May of 2003. The Lisa Haverstick Memorial Nursing Laboratory is being established in 91短视频’s nursing department in her memory.

“91短视频 nursing majors, faculty, and alumni have generously contributed to the fund along with Lisa’s friends and coworkers,” Dr. Wiens said. “Both funds will provide equipment and computer software to help students acquire basic skills and refine their decision-making and critical thinking in simulated clinical situations,” she added.

“91短视频 faculty and students are excited about the possibilities this grant offers for us to better prepare nursing graduates for the technological world of health care,” Wiens said. “We are grateful to Anthem and appreciate their recognition of the importance of nurses in providing safe and effective care in hospital settings.”