University of Northern Iowa receives grant for nursing program equipment

The University of Northern Iowa will use a grant from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust to purchase new equipment for its nursing program. (Photo courtesy of University of Northern Iowa)

Students earning their nursing degree through the University of Northern Iowa’s new program will have the chance to test their abilities to work under pressure in simulated critical situations through the purchase of new equipment paid for by a grant.

UNI has received a $275,000 grant from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust to go toward its nursing program, which welcomed its inaugural cohort of 26 students this fall, according to a news release. The Nursing and Public Health Department will acquire two manikins that can be used to simulate maternal and critical care patients, creating realistic simulations for students.

Department Head Nancy Kertz said in the release that the training students will receive through these simulations will help them sharpen their skills working in a “dynamic care environment,” and give them more knowledge in the obstetrics and intensive care fields. The manikins will join other simulations offered by the nursing program.

“Our students need to be prepared to provide complex care in high-risk, emergency situations,” Kertz said in the release. “As these types of emergencies are relatively rare, it’s possible that students may not encounter them in their clinical experiences. That’s where repeated practice in a low-stakes, simulated environment is really effective.”

UNI’s nursing program has been designed with the goal of offering new paths to those going into the nursing profession, Kertz said, ultimately meeting health care needs and shrinking gaps in the workforce. As the new equipment simulates maternal patients, the program will also help in addressing maternal health care inequities, she said.

The grant is the latest in support that has been provided to the nursing program, according to the release, with donations to the Our Tomorrow campaign providing a renewable $1,000 scholarship to each nursing student.

“We are grateful for the Carver Trust’s continued partnership in offering innovative, high-impact learning experiences for UNI students,” said UNI President Mark Nook in the release. “This grant is a significant investment in the future of health care education at our university, and it will ultimately contribute to improving the quality of care for Iowans.”

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