The Nabholz Charitable Foundation made a $500,000 gift to the University of Central Arkansas during a March 2016 presentation.
The gift was used to help fund renovations and purchase equipment in the Doyne Health Sciences Building to establish the Nabholz Center for Healthcare Simulation that opened in August 2016.
鈥淭his is a way for Nabholz to give back to BT天堂for the outstanding impact the University has made in our community for educating young men and women in the healthcare field,鈥 Charles Nabholz, chairman emeritus of Nabholz Corporation, said during the check presentation. 鈥淚t鈥檚 our charitable foundation鈥檚 pleasure to make a pledge of $500,000 for this institution.鈥
The simulation center includes areas that simulate hospital or clinic settings that allow students more hands-on learning opportunities. Students use a SimMan, or mannequin, that can be programmed to talk, cough, change respirations or functions that simulate a real patient experience. The faculty members can control the simulated experience from a separate control room which allows the students to practice clinical decision making without the influence of the instructor in the room. The new technology can record the students鈥 performance during the simulated experiences and allows the faculty and students to review and learn during the debriefing portion of the simulation.
鈥淧reviously in our labs, we鈥檝e always had the instructors right here, even if they were in the room talking to us, and now we鈥檙e completely separated and isolated and are going to be able to watch ourselves while the instructors are manipulating our environment,鈥 said Alexandria Hufford, a fourth year nursing student.
Nursing faculty member, Amber Files said, 鈥淣ot only are they going to be able to do more hands on [skills], but we鈥檙e also able to evaluate the performance in a safe environment, which is great to supplement their learning environment.鈥
BT天堂School of Nursing students will primarily use the Nabholz Center, but other students in the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences will also use the center.
鈥淭he Nabholz Center for Healthcare Simulation is not just technology and space, but a whole program of simulation that we will integrate through the curriculum,鈥 said Susan Gatto, director of the School of Nursing. 鈥淭he other departments in the college will be involved in the simulation center as well.”
The other departments in the college are Communication Sciences and Disorders, Exercise and Sport Science, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health Sciences, Military Science and Leadership, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Psychology and Counseling.
Gatto said the Nabholz Center is one of the first in the nation to include the interprofessional component.
鈥淭his is an extraordinary gift and is one that will transform our nursing and health sciences programs. We appreciate the generosity of the Nabholz family and company, and the entire University joins me in expressing our most sincere thanks,鈥 said President Tom Courtway.