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Notre Dame Dedicates the Parker Hannifin
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| Dr. Andrew P. Roth (left) presents a plaque commemorating the dedication of the Nursing Performance Enhancement Lab to Thomas Piraino, vice president, general counsel and secretary of the Parker Hannifin Foundation. |
The September 19 dedication of the Parker Hannifin Nursing Performance Enhancement Lab marked the official opening of a fully equipped learning environment, made possible through a generous $150,000 grant from The Parker Hannifin Foundation. Following the blessing of the lab by director of campus ministry, Brian Emerson, the gathering heard from Notre Dame College president, Dr. Andrew P. Roth, who acknowledged Parker Hannifin’s extraordinary contribution and spoke of the critical nursing shortage in Northeast Ohio.
Dr. Diane Jedlicka, director of the nursing program, described many of the Lab’s features and stressed the importance of the Lab as an integral part of the nursing curriculum. Dr. Roth and Dr. Jedlicka then joined Tom Piraino, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Parker Hannifin, in the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon that was, appropriately, strung between two IV stands. The plaque acknowledging Parker Hannifin’s largesse in funding the construction and outfitting of the lab was also ceremoniously unveiled. |
| The Parker Hannifin Nursing Performance Enhancement Lab is designed to replicate a hospital environment. |
Spirits were high among the guests— nursing faculty, members of the Nursing Program Advisory Committee, representatives of organizations collaborating with the nursing program, and Notre Dame administrators and faculty. Attracting special attention, Nursing students dressed in their white uniform vests complete with official nursing program patches, attracted special attention as they administered to their “patients,” VitalSim™ medical manikins that lay peacefully in their beds. The students answered a host of questions from guests, enthusiastically explaining their demonstrations. The programmable manikins, some of which have been affectionately named by the students, provide a wide range of typical patient vocal responses to specific illnesses. A two-way mirror in the nursing faculty office makes it possible to observe students’ performances, and gives faculty the ability to respond vocally through the manikins, as students oversee to their “patients.”
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| Nursing student John Skrha (left) with his mother, Betty Ann Stasny Skrha ’52 and father Joseph |
In this inaugural year of the bachelor of science in nursing pre-licensure program,23 students are on their way to earning their BSN degrees, with another nine registered nurse students on the RN to BSN track, and 60 students enrolled in the pre-nursing courses. The program is expected to grow significantly over the next few years, and the Parker Hannifin Nursing Performance Enhancement Lab will provide students with the education that is essential to their success and to their future patients’ care and safety. Notre Dame College is deeply grateful to The Parker Hannifin Foundation for its generosity and foresight in partnering with the College to help stem the nursing shortage in our community.
Sue Piatt is associate director of advancement at Notre Dame College.
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