University of Mary alumna contributes to Kappa Upsilon to make donation possible
University of Mary’s Kappa Upsilon, a chapter member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, donated CPR manikins to the North Dakota National Guard’s 37th Military Hospital in Ghana, Africa. Left to right: Jocelyn Dunnigan, associate professor of Nursing, University of Mary; Kappa Upsilon President and Chair of Graduate Nursing Education at the University of Mary, Billie Madler; Lieutenant Colonel Mark McEvers, ND National Guard; Captain Annie Gerhardt, ND National Guard.
BISMARCK, ND— University of Mary’s Kappa Upsilon, a chapter member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, today donated five adult/child, and two infant CPR manikins to the North Dakota National Guard’s 37th Military Hospital in Ghana, Africa. Members of that unit were on hand at the University of Mary for the ceremonial blessing of the equipment and military members who will be stationed in that country.
In the award letter to the 37thMilitary Hospital, Kappa Upsilon President and Chair of Graduate Nursing Education at the University of Mary, Billie Madler, expressed appreciation for what the nurses and healthcare providers do at the hospital.
“We understand it can be difficult for your staff to obtain additional training in Basic Life Support and Automatic External Defibrillator training courses,” said Madler. “Please accept this donation of CPR manikins and AED simulator to use for your facilities emergency room training events. We hope this donation will positively impact the well-being and continued advancement of care for your patients.”
This donation, made possible in part through the generous support and contribution of Dr. Annie Gerhardt to Kappa Upsilon, a University of Mary alumna and a Captain in the ND National Guard, allows for this military hospital to teach CPR to its healthcare professionals and soldiers.
Manikins Donated to ND National Guard 37th Military Hospital.
“The 37thHospital does not have any manikins for teaching CPR,” explained Gerhardt. “They request that all employees are certified, but they currently have to go outside the hospital for the training. This is the facility where our own soldiers from the U.S. go to if an emergency or health concern should arise while training in Ghana. The North Dakota Partnership Program works with the North Dakota State Health Department, Ghana National Health Service, US Army Africa, and North Dakota National Guard to provide safety and intellectual support for Ghana that will help raise emergency care services and maintain positive relationships. More or less the North Dakota National Guard has ‘adopted’ Ghana. The partnership can not provide any monetary or supply support, but helps organize missions of individuals that are working with the Ghana military and National Health Services.”
In January, the ND National Guard will deliver the equipment to the 37th Military Hospital. Between now and the time of their departure, Kappa Upsilon plans to host an Over the Counter (OTC) medical supply drive to add to this donation.