The New Martinsville Campus of the West Virginia Northern Community College welcomed a collective of notable dignitary’s to the area. The purpose of the gathering was the new innovation in nursing courses that will begin this fall semester for student.

Doctor Daniel Mosser, President of West Virginia Northern Community College, New Martinsville, Wheeling and Weirton campus welcomed those in attendance. He presented the group a new and innovative way of training nurses entering into the field of medicine.

The state of West Virginia is using a portion of a $48 million grant to help fund these advanced training units at all three campuses. Each of the Simulation Labs is possible because $1 million of that grant was used to outfit three computer simulation patient rooms. Each of the beds has a medical manikin that is attached to a computer in a central control room. Each manikin can be programed to give responses to the nurse trainees to create different medical procedures of crises.

The program is being administered by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commissions and the Community and Technical College. The programs training center will begin in the fall 2023 for the LPN program. The following fall, 2024 an additional program will be started to bring RNás into the program. Dr. Mosser also pointed out, the college began two non-credited Certified Nursing Assistance (CAN) class this spring semester at the New Martinsville campus.

In addition to Dr. Mosser, Bonnie Petterman, Chairman of WVNCC Allied Health Division spoke to the gathering. Ms. Petermen explained how each of the training rooms will operate. The High Fidelity Medical Manikins’ are connected with computers that are operated by skilled trainers. Each manikin has the ability to speak, telling students where it hurts, or if they are dizzy. The simulator’s operator, can program the manikin to react and show symptoms of a medical problem. This will give the student real experience to know how and when to react with medical intervention. The manikin can also be programed to go into cardiac arrest. Within the training room will be defibrillators and equipment necessary to address the situation.

After Dr. Mosser and Bonnie Petterman spoke, the simulation labs were officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony. If you are interested in this programs please contact any of the WVNCC campuses for addition information on class size and financial assistance. New Martinsville Campus 304-455-4684