NewPage donates EKG machine to Bay College
By Audrey LaFaveArticle Photos
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NewPage Corp. recently donated an EKG machine to Bay College for use in its Nursing Program.
Officials for the program said the machine will offer real-life simulation for students and allow them to gain more hands-on experience.
ESCANABA - The Bay College Nursing Department recently received a new electrocardiogram (EKG) machine from NewPage Corp. as a donation to the program.
Linda Lewandowski, dean of allied health and wellness, said the gift was a wonderful addition to the nursing program.
"Sometimes when people have equipment that they no longer need they think of us," she said. "And I think one of their employees used to work here in the nursing department. Knowing what the expense is in purchasing equipment, being a community college we don't always have the ability to do that."
Lewandowski said the machine will allow students to gain real-world experience with running and reading an EKG. Sometimes they will use mannequins and other times, if they give permission, other students, to run a strip from the machine. Students would then read the strip to determine what the person's heart was doing.
"Right now we use strips in books. But sometimes if it's a real person it's a little more meaningful and helps students learn better," Lewandowski explained, adding the college and her department were very thankful for the gift. "We're really excited about having this piece of equipment available for use. This particular unit (Burdick Elite II) cost over $4,000 so this really is a very generous donation. "
The nursing program at Bay College uses electronic mannequins, which are rather expensive, but allow for better instruction.
"(By using) electronic mannequins you can do all sorts of things that you wouldn't normally be able to do in nursing school," said Lewandowski, adding the department lacks certain things. They have a wish list of items they need, and the most important is a remodel of their laboratories.
"One of the more important aspects today in nursing education is to provide students with simulation and it's very expensive to do that," said Lewandowski. "We would like state of the art labs to provide the best learning environment for our students."
The nursing program offers full- and part-time learning and currently has 185 students between the Escanaba and Iron Mountain campuses. Lewandowski said the program is unique in that it offers a laddered associate's degree in nursing.
"After they complete 43 credits they have earned their practical nurse certificate and after the other 29 credits they've earned their associate's for a registered nurse," she said. "If a person went through our program full-time they could do it in five semesters (or approximately) 18 months."
Many students choose to attend school part-time, however.
"It could take three to four years for a part-time program and that meets the needs of a lot of people who work and have families," said Lewandowski.
By most accounts, people are clamoring to get into the nursing program at Bay.
"It is highly competitive to be admitted to the program," Lewandowski said.
"We have been told that people come here because it is one of the best and of course it is more economical for students in the area."
Lewandowski said the college and the nursing department are thankful to NewPage for their charity.
"We are very grateful for the generous donations that have been made, including our EKG machine," she said.
