News Roundup: Recycling Initiative Helps Adults with Disabilities, Donation to Robotics Club & Nursing Students Visit Local Hospital

Rasmussen University participated in numerous opportunities to donate to several organizations in May. In addition, New Port Richey nursing students had an unforgettable day at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital (ACH).

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Florida Campuses Donate to Local Robotics Clubs

Rasmussen University donated a total of 25 computer learning kits to high school robotics clubs across Florida in May, including to River Ridge High School and Dunbar High School robotics clubs.

The computer learning kits are meant to help students learn how to build a computer from scratch. The kits contain all the necessary hardware of a fully-functional computer, including a motherboard, processor and hard drive. The Rasmussen University technology students use similar kits when they begin their degree program.

“We know high schools don’t always have the funding to purchase these types of learning kits or hardware, which is why we wanted to give back to schools with strong technology, hardware and software programs,” said Jennifer Ayotte, dean of the Rasmussen University School of Technology.

The River Ridge High School Robotics Club recently competed in the FIRST Robotics World Championship in St. Louis, Missouri, and was one of only 11 rookie teams. The club finished in the top 4 percent in the world.

Illinois Campus Collects Old Electronics, Proceeds Help Employ Adults with Disabilities

The Rasmussen University Aurora campus partnered in May with SouthSTAR Services—an agency that employs adults with disabilities. The campus garnered community attention and involvement by asking people to recycle their old electronics, and provided two locations for people to bring them.

The 2011 Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act banned the disposal of electronics in landfills, making it more difficult for people to recycle their electronic waste. In steps SouthSTAR’s EcoSafe Processors.

EcoSafe Processors, SouthSTAR’s e-recycling facility in Steger, Illinois, not only provides e-recycling services, but also provides vocational training and long-term job opportunities to adults with disabilities. EcoSafe team members earn a paycheck while gaining valuable training and work experience in the desirable environmentally-friendly economy.

Nursing Students Gain Clinical Experience at Local Hospital

New Port Richey campus professional nursing students attended a clinical day May 19 at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital (JHACH) as part of their Maternal Child Health Nursing course.

The NPR campus has a clinical contract with Johns Hopkins ACH and utilizes the hospital as a learning and training environment every quarter for pediatrics. Each student who is in the course will have an opportunity to attend a day there with NPR nursing instructor Kara Walls.

“It is important for me as the clinical instructor to show students the various avenues they can take in nursing,” said Walls.

If students have an interest or curiosity about a specific area of nursing, Walls can request to have attending students tour these areas of the hospital. This first-hand experience is a valuable way for students to get a sneak peek at their potential future nursing specializations

This particular clinical day began with students being taken on a guided tour to observe a group the public rarely sees up close — the flight team. The students were able to witness a flight team landing and the transportation of a patient into the hospital. In addition, the students had the opportunity to speak with the flight nurses and tour the helicopter.  A Johns Hopkins ACH respiratory therapist and several registered nurses shared with students about their jobs — including equipment demonstrations, strategy and training. The students were also able to see the flight team prepare to fly out for another transport.

Another experience for the day included touring an operating room (OR) and the cardiovascular intensive care unit (ICU).

“Every student has the opportunity to work in an area that is of interest for them if we can arrange it,” said Walls. “JHACH allows students to train with nurses on the different specialty floors, in addition to the medical-surgical floors.”

For example, if they are interested in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or the OR they can choose to spend their day there, working with an assigned nurse.

“The staff and clinical education department work hard to provide a great experience for all our students,” said Walls. “This opportunity to visit the flight team and learn about their work was just one experience among many opportunities we have there. It is a privilege for our students to be a part of the incredible JHACH.”