2008 Woodie Awards
New Lab for Nursing Students
Diana Mora
Issue date: 5/7/08 Section: Top Stories
After a milestone gift of $500,000 from the Bolger Foundation of Ridgewood, David F. Bolger helped finance the creation and opening of the high-tech patient simulation laboratory.
Bolger had the facility named after his late aunt, Nel Bolger a Dutch nurse and graduate of Johns Hopkins Nursing School who was a leader in the underground movement in Holland during the Nazi occupation.
Bolger was taught the value of hard work and felt that, "the nursing program at William Paterson provides students with opportunities for employment in a satisfying, lifelong career in a field that is vitally important and that contributes to improving the human condition"
The laboratory will serve to provide students with real life situations that may occur in real life situations.
"This state-of-the-art simulation laboratory will allow our students to enhance their proficiency with decision-making and procedures in a sophisticated, simulated clinical facility," Julie Bliss, professor of nursing and chair of William Paterson's nursing department said in a statement.
Many nurses say such clinical simulations are critical to learning in their respective medical field.
"Clinicals help, but it was my first three months working at the hospital where I really got a hold of what I was truly doing and felt like a real nurse," said Katherine Olivieri, R.N. for Meadowland Hospital.
By having this simulation laboratory the University feels that they will produce nurses that are better equipped with real on-site experiences.
"We are proud to be a leader in the trend of providing nursing students with a learning environment that mirrors a clinical setting so that they are prepared to respond immediately in the field caring for actual patients," said Professor Bliss in earlier statements.
The lab features a control station and computerized patient simulation mannequins. The lab also includes robotic digital cameras to record students practicing patient care techniques, television screens to display the lab sessions and one-way mirrors to allow viewing by professors.
The facility also allows for the creation DVDs for evaluations of student's progress or to illustrate their experiences to prospective employers.
This year's graduating seniors are disappointed that they will not be able to take advantage of the new facility features.
"I think it's wonderful, I'm just jealous that I'm graduating and not able to use it," said Magda Organowska, a senior nursing student.
Bolger had the facility named after his late aunt, Nel Bolger a Dutch nurse and graduate of Johns Hopkins Nursing School who was a leader in the underground movement in Holland during the Nazi occupation.
Bolger was taught the value of hard work and felt that, "the nursing program at William Paterson provides students with opportunities for employment in a satisfying, lifelong career in a field that is vitally important and that contributes to improving the human condition"
The laboratory will serve to provide students with real life situations that may occur in real life situations.
"This state-of-the-art simulation laboratory will allow our students to enhance their proficiency with decision-making and procedures in a sophisticated, simulated clinical facility," Julie Bliss, professor of nursing and chair of William Paterson's nursing department said in a statement.
Many nurses say such clinical simulations are critical to learning in their respective medical field.
"Clinicals help, but it was my first three months working at the hospital where I really got a hold of what I was truly doing and felt like a real nurse," said Katherine Olivieri, R.N. for Meadowland Hospital.
By having this simulation laboratory the University feels that they will produce nurses that are better equipped with real on-site experiences.
"We are proud to be a leader in the trend of providing nursing students with a learning environment that mirrors a clinical setting so that they are prepared to respond immediately in the field caring for actual patients," said Professor Bliss in earlier statements.
The lab features a control station and computerized patient simulation mannequins. The lab also includes robotic digital cameras to record students practicing patient care techniques, television screens to display the lab sessions and one-way mirrors to allow viewing by professors.
The facility also allows for the creation DVDs for evaluations of student's progress or to illustrate their experiences to prospective employers.
This year's graduating seniors are disappointed that they will not be able to take advantage of the new facility features.
"I think it's wonderful, I'm just jealous that I'm graduating and not able to use it," said Magda Organowska, a senior nursing student.
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