By Rebecca Wyatt, OU Web Writer

Oakland University’s School of Nursing officially opened the School of Nursing Acute Care Laboratory with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and special guests Lynn Orfgen, chief executive officer of Crittenton Hospital Medical Center, and Congressman Joe Knollenberg, representative from the Ninth Congressional District in Oakland County.

“Thanks to our strong and steadfast partnership with Crittenton Hospital Medical Center and the critical support of Congressman Knollenberg, we have a modernized, technology-enhanced laboratory in which to prepare the next generation of nurses,” said School of Nursing Dean Linda Thompson Adams.

The School of Nursing Acute Care Laboratory has been outfitted with new flooring, lighting, chairs and tables and an adjoining classroom was remodeled and adds 750 square feet to the acute care lab, which now totals 2,250 square feet. The lab added three state-of-the-art beds and 10 over-bed tables and nightstands and wall-mounted blood pressure monitors, scores and other equipment. 

“Our students will be learning and practicing on the same types of equipment they will encounter when they graduate from Oakland University and assume posts in hospitals, doctor’s offices and clinics,” Thompson Adams said. 

Knollenberg was instrumental in securing $125,000 in funds for new supplies and equipment for the lab. Crittenton Hospital  Medical Center has provided continued support for the nursing program and donated two of the state-of-the-art beds and nine over-bed tables and nightstands for the expanded lab. A third bed and 10th over-bed table and nightstand were donated by Aileen Werner, territory account manager for Stryker Corporation, and Stryker.

The lab also is home to Sim Man, a high-tech simulator that provides realistic patient care scenarios. Thanks to outside funding, the lab is soon going to be adding Sim Baby, a pediatric simulator.

“This new lab space will be a valuable enhancement to the nursing school,” said Knollenberg, adding it will accommodate OU’s rapidly growing nursing student population. With enrollment in nursing up 16 percent this year, the school needed the expansion for the more than 1,400 students in the program. 

Knollenberg congratulated the university and Crittenton Hospital Medical Center for the collaboration and partnerships that have been developed to create programs like the lab.

“You should be congratulated because you are the ones who are going to help this country and this community maintain a healthy atmosphere,” Knollenberg said.

Crittenton looks forward to growing its partnership with Oakland University.

“It’s done great things already and I’m sure it will continue to do great things,” Orfgen said about the partnership.

For more information on the School of Nursing or the School of Nusing Acute Care Laboratory, visit the School of Nursing Web site.