Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University held a naming reception on Tuesday for Woman’s Hospital to celebrate the partnership and their generous gift to the NICU and Birthing Suite in St. Francis Hall’s Simulated Environment Teaching Hospital.
“This is the future of healthcare, and Woman’s Hospital is grateful for the opportunity to partner with FranU in its ongoing commitment to educating and developing well trained compassionate nurses in our community and state,” said Woman’s Hospital President and CEO Rene Ragas. “Improving the lives of women and infants is our core mission, which is why we are honored to support both the NICU and birthing suite simulation rooms. Together, we will continue building a skilled workforce capable of providing high-quality care for generations to come.”
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) provides critical care for infants born prematurely or with life-threatening conditions, while the birthing suite has the world’s most lifelike childbirth simulator, Victoria. From early pregnancy complications, high-risk deliveries, and postpartum emergencies to non-gravid scenarios for general nursing care, Victoria simulates a full range of obstetrical events to facilitate teamwork and deepen critical thinking skills in learners of all levels. In addition, the birthing suite incorporates a transition area where nurses provide care for the newborn. Students engage in obstetric and neonatal care of mom and baby, ranging from uneventful to life-endangering.
“This generous gift from Woman’s Hospital represents their significant and sincere commitment to the highest quality of care for mothers and children, because it is a direct investment in the highest quality education of future care givers. We are grateful to Woman’s Hospital and their dedicated leaders for making this important commitment to the future of healthcare in our community,” stated Tina Holland, president and CEO of FranU. Holland and Ragas are pictured, left.
St. Francis Hall opened its doors last year introducing the new SETH, a 19,000 square foot space where students learn in high-tech patient care simulation rooms that are created to replicate clinical environments. Simulation-based learning experiences provide learners with the opportunity to participate in multifaceted imitation clinical scenarios that represent actual or potential situations in a safe environment.