Nursing students, instructors and friends gathered for a very special naming ceremony on August 6 at Florida State University’s College of Nursing. At the unique fundraising event, generous donors to the College of Nursing named their high-fidelity mannequins, along with a Patient Room in the Simulation Lab.

The naming of the mannequins is part of a unique fundraising initiative at the College to ensure technological advances in simulation are incorporated into the learning process for undergraduate nursing students. Recently, the College acquired Gaumard^® Super Chloe skills mannequins. These mannequins are considered top-of-the-line integrative technology to advance professional nursing practice and were added to the College’s existing high fidelity simulators. The newly acquired mannequins allow students to listen to normal and abnormal heart and breath sounds, and to practice common nursing procedures. The Simulation Laboratory facilitates the development of critical thinking skills, and provides students with a variety of scenarios where they can provide hands-on patient care in a safe environment applying the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom.  

“Thanks to new technology and other enhancements in the Simulation Laboratory, we are able to better educate and prepare future nurses to deal with the changing landscape of healthcare, and address the healthcare needs of diverse populations,” said Dr. Judy McFetridge-Durdle, Dean and Professor of the College of Nursing.

A highlight of the evening included celebrating the first named room in the Simulation Lab, the Elin and Allen DeGraw Patient Room. The DeGraw’s generous donation represents their love and dedication to both FSU and the College of Nursing.

The College of Nursing’s new patients include:

• Curley Alford, named by Barbara and Gary Alford, using Barbara’s maiden name Curley, and the family name Alford.
• Mrs. Vivian Reynolds, named by Sally Karioth, Ph.D. in honor of the first Dean of the College of Nursing, Vivian Duxbury, and “Reynolds” in honor of one of the first instructional movie produced for nursing students “Mrs. Reynolds Needs a Nurse,” released in 1963.
• Truly T. Bear, named by Rachel Myers and Alan Weisman for a Beanie Baby that was Alan’s first gift to Rachel.
• Frances Mahaffey, named by Donna Barber in honor of her mother, Frances Mahaffey.
• Freddy Durdle, named by Judith McFetridge-Durdle, Dean of the College of Nursing, and Fred Durdle (this was the first named simulation patient). The patient was named after Judith’s husband.
• Sparky Raines, named by Diane and Donald Raines in honor and memory of Diane’s favorite Nursing professor, Dr. Marjorie Sparkman.
• R.J., named by Kathleen and Steve Wilson using  the initials of Kathleen’s parents, Ron and Joan Perrott of Belleair, Florida, in honor of their love and support.
• Terry Sue Turner, named by Terry Sue Turner in dedication of her years of service in the nursing practice.
• B.C., named by FSU Foundation Trustee Barbara Coen and her husband Bill, in honor of their years of support to the College of Nursing and to Florida State University. 

“It was nice to celebrate the generous support totaling $55,000 for the College of Nursing by these donors,” McFetridge-Durdle concluded. “The individual patient rooms and the medical mannequins are important because they allow students to participate in failure to rescue scenarios for different populations and manage higher acuity patients in simulation.”

To learn more about how to name a College of Nursing simulation patient, or for other giving opportunities, contact Jen Albaugh by email at jalbaugh@foundation.fsu.edu or by phone at (850) 644-2647.

About the College of Nursing

The College of Nursing has been educating men and women for the practice of professional nursing since 1950. The College offers undergraduate and graduate programs leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master of Science in Nursing, and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. The College of Nursing’s mission is to develop nursing leaders for professional practice and research in diverse settings.