01/10/19
HAYS, Kan. – Nursing education at Fort Hays State University has been helped by two separate grants from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan.

The university’s Department of Nursing was granted $250,000 for equipment for its simulation lab and $150,000 for a scholarship that will help place graduates of the department in Northwest Kansas.

“We are so thankful for the support the Dane G. Hansen Foundation has provided for our students” said Dr. Jenny Manry, chair of the department.

Among the equipment for the simulation lab are 20 Reality Works Babies, said Manry. The babies mimic infants and track how often they are fed, have their diapers changed and cry.

Other funding was for a Pediatric Hal manikin that has facial movements, cries, sweats, suffers seizures and produces heart and lung sounds. Additional equipment included a fetal heart monitor, a 24-week newborn manikin and funding to record activities in the simulation lab.

The video system will allow students to visualize themselves in practice and get feedback on ways to improve performance.

“This equipment will allow students to practice skills and learn assessment techniques in a safe environment before graduating and practicing in rural Kansas,” said Manry.

“We have many students who graduate and practice in rural areas,” she said. “The opportunity to work with specialized pediatric simulation equipment will increase students skill level and confidence in real life situations.”

The scholarship program’s $150,000 is designed to help place graduates from the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the Registered Nurse to BSN program, the Master of Science in Nursing and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program into positions in Northwest Kansas.

Students will be able to apply the final year of their programs by submitting letters of employment from an employer in Northwest Kansas and a letter from their academic advisors.

In addition, said Manry, students will meet with an interview committee to discuss why they desire to work in Northwest Kansas. Each student accepting a scholarship must agree to work in Northwest Kansas for a minimum of two years.

“This is a great opportunity for students in Northwest Kansas who have a desire to return to school,” said Manry. “This scholarship will provide funding to help pay off student loans upon completion of the program.”

Scholarship amounts vary by program. Graduates from the undergraduate BSN pathway can receive $10,000. Undergraduate RN to BSN graduates are eligible for $7,000.

Graduates of the MSN in nursing administration track are eligible for $10,000 grants.

Doctor of Nursing Practice graduates are in two tracks. Graduates of the BSN to DNP track, the nurse practitioner licensure program, are eligible for $25,000 grants, and students who start the DNP program with MSN degrees already in hand are eligible for $12,000 grants with the two-year commitment.

The Hansen Foundation’s service area comprises the 26 Northwest Kansas counties stretching from Cheyenne down to Wallace County, east through the top three tiers of counties and then into the eight-county block from Jewell and Republic down through Ellsworth and Saline.