Nursing students now have the opportunity to experience real life medical emergencies in a simulated setting due to a $200,000 grant from the Dyson Foundation in Millbrook.
SUNY Orange used the grant money expand its nursing simulation laboratory and virtual clinical learning center to the college”™s Newburgh campus.
The laboratory and learning center in Newburgh will be located in Kaplan Hall, the school”™s new 87,000-square-foot building set to open for classes in January. At its Middletown campus, the college presently utilizes limited simulation technology but hopes to significantly upgrade its equipment and laboratory.
The “SIM” babies and adult manikins allow faculty members to create pre-programmed scenarios or create individualized routines, giving students the opportunity to sharpen key skills necessary to care for and manage a wide variety of patients and situations.
The manikins can be programmed to have a simple sniffle or a full-blown heart attack, giving students the opportunity to learn how to handle real-life situations.
“We are extremely appreciative of the Dyson Foundation”™s generosity,” said Pat Slesinski, chair of the college”™s nursing department. “This gift will allow us to continue to implement the latest simulation technology into our nursing curriculum and help us create an environment where our students can safely develop sound nursing practices. In the short term, this gift greatly benefits the college and our students, but ultimately it will be the residents of Orange County who see the largest benefit because our graduates will be confident and prepared when they become registered professional nurses.”
“We believe SUNY Orange will produce meaningful results with this investment in its nursing program,” said Michell Speight, director of programs at the Dyson Foundation.
The Dyson Foundation gift comes as the college continues its $25 million Defining Moments Capital Campaign, a sweeping fundraising initiative aimed at fortifying SUNY Orange”™s scholarship endowment, establishing a science and technology innovation fund and supporting development of its Newburgh campus. The college has so far raised nearly $22 million toward its goal.
