Thanks to assistance from members of the Immanuel-Midland Nursing Alumni Association, Midland University senior nursing students recently got real-life experience in working with stroke patients. 

Board president Carol Bohling ‘68, and secretary/treasurer Jan Ostransky ‘66, played the role of patients who had suffered strokes during a training session at the Midland University and Methodist Fremont Health High Fidelity Simulation Lab.  

“It was a very rewarding experience, and I was glad we were able to take part and do this for the students,” Bohling said. “The Alumni Association wants to help these students. We’ve all been in their position, and we want to continue to promote the nursing profession. There is such a shortage of nurses, and we want to help in any way we can. One of the ways we can help these students is by interacting and getting involved.”

Bohling was a nurse for 42 years and believes it is critical to support and encourage the next generation of nurses. “We all felt a calling to be a nurse, and these students have that same calling as well,” she said. “They are dedicated, want to work hard, and want to do well. Midland provides a great education for nursing students, and I’m confident all of these students will be good nurses.”

Abigail Olson was one of six nursing students taking part in the exercise. She said having alumni act as patients was a unique and knowledge-building opportunity. “I like that they were able to respond to our questions,” Olson said. “It was valuable to be able to practice with nurses who have that experience.”

Fellow senior Jacob Perez said with the majority of the work in the simulation lab being done with manikin patients, it was a refreshing change to have a real person on the other side of the exam. “I like having a real person instead of a manikin because you are able to get that feedback,” he said. “The alumni have many years of nursing experience, and we are just getting started, so we truly appreciate the positive feedback they give us.”

Other senior nursing students who took part in the simulation were Shelby Vandenberg, Alissa Fitzgerald, Mitchell Marinaro, and Reanna Mancera.

In her role as a patient, Ostransky said it rekindled memories of being a nursing student and was excited to be a part of mentoring students who are preparing themselves for a career in nursing. “I was a nurse for a long time, so it was hard to remember what being a senior was like,” Ostransky said. “It was so refreshing to see young people working so hard through the process, and learning from it. It was rewarding to help these students by portraying a real stroke patient, with real needs, and see how they responded.”

The Immanuel Hospital of Nursing joined with Midland in 1973 and developed a four-year program for nursing students. Over the past five years, the alumni association has contributed more than $10,000 to the simulation lab, as well as providing scholarships for six nursing students each year. 

“The Immanuel-Midland Nursing Alumni Association has served Midland, our community, and our nursing profession incredibly well,” said Diana Moxness, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. “It’s inspiring to hear stories about their careers. I am so thankful they are devoted to giving back to our current nursing students and assisting with their clinical learning experiences.”