Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson during today’s funding announcement at UNBC – photos 250News

Prince George, B.C. – UNBC’s nursing program received a nice financial boost today.

B.C.’s Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson announced $103,400 towards the purchase of simulation mannequins that will allow health-care students the hands-on experience they need in preparation for the workforce.

He said the mannequins can be used to simulate a variety of bedside situations.

Senior lab instructors Heidi Dodenberg (left) and Gwen Keeler work with simulation mannequin

“The most basic thing is for things like respiration and pulse management,” he said. “The next thing beyond that is that mannequins can simulate a problem such as fainting or even cardiac arrest. And then at the most advanced stages they can be used for administration of intravenous fluids and medications.”

Even more importantly, Wilkinson said the investment is timely considering 2024 Labour Market Outlook projections show that the health-care and social-assistance industry is expected to be among the top five growth sectors in the North Nechako region.

Provincially the outlook predicts 25,505 opening for registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, along with 2,850 openings for general practitioners and family physicians, and a further 2,030 openings for specialist physicians.

And Wilkinson said health-care students generally choose to live in the region where they receive their education.

“We’ve found that the tendency to start a career in a place is much stronger when the training is local,” he said. “And then I think it’s common sense for most of us that once people get into their 30s and have settled down and often formed relationships and had children, they tend to stay where they are for a good number of years.”

UNBC president Dr. Daniel Weeks welcomed the investment.

“It’s fantastic. Again, the Province recognizes that up here at UNBC we need the leading edge equipment just like any other facility in the province in order to train our students.In this particular case this is very critical equipment to producing some of the finest nursing students anywhere.”