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High school and middle school health science students at 11 Marion County Public Schools will have more hands-on opportunities to learn basic patient care thanks to a donation from College of Central Florida.

On June 13, 91��Ƭ transferred 12 hospital beds and 17 high-tech simulators, valued at $67,000, to MCPS. The electric beds allow students to learn on equipment used in hospitals. The Laerdal VitalSim-enabled manikins simulate heart, breath and bowel sounds, helping students learn to take vital signs and blood pressure readings as well as other basic nursing skills.

The donation was made possible after 91��Ƭ received grant funds through the Florida Department of Education LINE grant, created by the Florida Legislature, which allowed the college to purchase new simulators to be used by nursing students.

“This is the ripple effect of funding,” said Dr. Jim Henningsen, 91��Ƭ president. “Because of the tremendous support College of Central Florida received from the Florida Legislature and the Citrus County Hospital Board, who provided the initial investment to be matched by the state, we can now gift this training equipment to Marion County Public Schools. We’re excited to help younger students interested in health care careers get an earlier start with hands-on learning.”

The simulators and hospital beds will be distributed to five MCPS high schools: Belleview, Lake Weir, North Marion, Vanguard and West Port, as well as six middle schools: Dunnellon, Fort King, Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks, Howard, Liberty and North Marion.

“We are grateful for community partners like the College of Central Florida for identifying ways to support our students who are interested in high-demand jobs, like those in the health care industry,” said Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Diane Gullett. “Being able to provide hands-on training is another way we are partnering together to help every student succeed.”

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