Health Center Open House features real-life training for WKCTC students | Events

MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY (KFVS) - West Kentucky Community and Technical College allied health and nursing students worked together in a simulated emergency situation during the open house of the college’s Multidisciplinary Simulation Health Center.

“I can’t breathe, I can’t breath, help me.” This is what nearly 100 captivated community members, health care providers, and West Kentucky Community and Technical College students, faculty and staff heard during the open house of the college’s new Multidisciplinary Simulation Health Center on Nov. 2.

“This is tremendous – what an opportunity to learn for students and the community,” said Jill Asher, Murray-Calloway County Hospital director of perioperative services. “You just can’t beat hands-on experience.”

According to WKCTC, more than 300 students will utilize the center in a variety of areas including surgical technology, radiography, diagnostic sonography, physical therapy assistant, respiratory care, pharmacy technician, and nursing.

“The simulation center replicates real-life scenarios in a risk free, supportive environment where the complexity of quality patient care can be created, identified and practiced,” said Shari Gholson, WKCTC dean of nursing.  “Changes in patient conditions can be incorporated in real time, reflecting physiological changes just as they would occur in real patients.”

WKCTC sonography student Jessica Ward of Union City, Tenn., said the simulation center is providing her with training that can better prepare her for the future. “Being trained with real-life situations; learning different signs, symptoms and treatments for circumstances that can and do go wrong in the real world is a fantastic opportunity for us.”

Students participating in the open house simulation agreed.

“We learn how important it is for everyone from each area to communicate and work together in a real-life chaotic situation,” said nursing student and Marshall County resident Gwen Bradley.

Surgical technology student Erica Byrd of Paducah added, “It just doesn’t get much better than this until we get to work with human patients.”

For more information about the Multidisciplinary Simulation Health Center, contact Shari Gholson at 270-534-3372 or shari.gholson@kctcs.edu.

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