Gift provides nursing students with improved training opportunities

Taylor Mathes and Crystal Waddell demonstrate the operation of a SimBaby patient simulator to Bobby Alexander of Woodward and Mary Brune, instructor of nursing at Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Woodward Campus.

3Students majoring in nursing at Northwestern Oklahoma State University will be better prepared to work with infants and young children, all because of the continuing generosity of a Woodward community leader and his tricked out motorcycle.

Bobby Alexander of Woodward has long recognized the importance of healthcare in his community, serving as a member of the board of directors for Woodward Regional Hospital. He also has seen first-hand the benefit of having enough locally-educated nurses to meet the needs of the hospital and other local healthcare providers.

So when Northwestern’s Division of Nursing expressed a need for an infant patient simulator (SimBaby) and the newest model of the male patient simulator (SimMan), Alexander decided to help…in a very unique way.

Alexander decided to donate one of his prized possessions, a 2008 Harley Davidson that been customized by the renowned Covington’s Cycle City in Woodward. Once Alexander decided to sell his bike to assist Northwestern, Covington’s owner Jerry Covington had it sold in a matter of minutes for $22,500, all of which went to help purchase one of the simulators.

Bobby Alexander (left) and Jerry Covington of Covington’s Cycle City, stand by a customized Harley Davidson motorcycle donated by Alexander to help purchase patient simulation equipment for the nursing program at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

This is not the first time Alexander has invested in Northwestern students and his community. The owner of Power Rig, and a previous Woodward Citizen of the Year, has quietly supported Northwestern for some time.

“Mr. Alexander has demonstrated his belief in the mission of Northwestern and in our work to deliver affordable access to the Woodward area,” said Dr. Janet Cunningham, university president. “We have seen great success in our nursing program and our ability to continue to provide well-prepared nurses throughout northwest Oklahoma is strengthened by the support of leaders like Bobby Alexander.”

Dave Wallace, chief executive officer of Woodward Regional Hospital, echoed Cunningham’s sentiments.

“Bobby has been a wonderful asset to our hospital board and to our community. His partnership with the hospital and Northwestern ensures students have the tools for an optimal learning environment and that helps us bring quality care to our community.”

The SimBaby and SimMan are advanced patient simulators for nurse training - from routine care to critical emergencies. They feature realistic anatomy and clinical functionality, making it ideal for training all aspects of care. The simulators allow nursing instructors to recreate emergencies in order for nursing students to practice their skills in a risk-free environment.

“The donation of the simulators is extremely important because it provides us, as students, real life scenarios and an opportunity to apply critical thinking and practice our skills,” said Crystal Waddell, one of the students in the nursing program. “It is beneficial that during our scenarios each step we take is recorded so we can go back, review and improve to better prepare for the hospital setting. Working with the simulators, along with our clinical experience, can really strengthen our skill set as well as our confidence.”

Graduates of Northwestern’s Division of Nursing achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensures Examination (NCLEX) during the most recent academic year. The national average pass rate during this period was 88.49 percent. Graduates of the program have achieved a 100 percent pass rate in three of the past four years.

-NW-