The University of Virginia's College at Wise nursing department will receive a grant of $90,256 from the Appalachian Regional Commission to expand its Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program.
Congressman Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon announced offering of the grant, and according to Boucher's press release, this grant will ensure that the students in the nursing program receive a comprehensive, state-of-the-art education.
According to Jane Dean, the director of college relations at U.Va.-Wise, the grant is being used to purchase equipment for advanced cardiac life-support training, EKG training and pediatric nurse training.
With this grant, "U.Va.-Wise becomes one of the few schools in the state to certify in advanced cardiac life support prior to graduation," Dean said. "It enables nurses to go into critical care practice areas directly after graduation."
In addition, with computer purchases and simulation software, Dean said students can receive hands-on training and experience in the lab before they ever get in to the real world.
This grant is an extension of a grant the U.Va.-Wise nursing department received last year, Dean said. Though U.Va.-Wise already had a two-year nursing program for graduate study, the grant enabled them to start a four-year undergraduate program with the latest nursing technology, including SimMan, a life-size, computerized mannequin. SimMan is an advanced simulator for student training that can speak and be programmed to display symptoms of many diseases.
The latest technology, the SimBaby, which allows students to practice the emergency treatment of infant patients, was purchased with this new grant at the price of $35,000. This new device integrates information technology with nurses' training and patient care.
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the grant's provider, solely focuses on the advancement of the Appalachian area, Dean said.
Nursing Prof. Doris Glick said the University does not expect any similar grant for the nursing department. Nor should U.Va.-Wise's grant have a direct impact on the University of Virginia.
Commenting on the grant, Dean said, "We're very pleased that we're receiving ARC money given the nation's nursing shortage. We know that we have a very important role to fill in educating nurses for the Southwest region and the entire Commonwealth. We are looking forward to fulfilling that need."
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