Columbus State University holds ribbon cutting for new mother-baby simulation lab

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - A new lab is open on Columbus State University’s RiverPark campus in Uptown allowing nursing students to simulate birth scenarios.

“This lab is our OB lab or our obstetrical nursing lab, and we have a brand new state of the art mannequin who allows students to perform those skills and techniques needed to assist with successful deliveries,” said Dr. Jherika Tyler, the assistant director of undergraduate nursing program. “We can also manipulate the environment and create a safe space for them to practice those abnormal deliveries.

A group of juniors and seniors who will be using the mother-baby simulation lab at Frank Brown Hall said they were excited for it to finally be open.

“Very important to us to have this new simulation lab due to we’ll be better prepared to have more clinical preparation before we get into the clinical setting,” said junior nursing student, Arika Carter.

“We will be able to prepare for our next semester classes as we’re dealing with pregnancy and labor,” Bailey Ngyen

The mannequins in the lab can mimic lifelike movements, responses, and facial expressions.

“Our new mannequin, she delivers on her own. She allows us to insert fluids. Fluids to come out. We also have multiple abdomens where students can palpate the belly. We can simulate a C-Section Delivery,” said Tyler.

The lab is named after Dr. Cecil Whitaker, a retired obstetrician gynecologist or OBGYN. He served in Columbus for more than three decades with two of those decades in obstetrics.

“Well it’s quite an honor. I appreciate it very much. The idea behind this, a method to train nurses to be prepared to face labor and delivery for the first time. I think, and I hope it will be an avenue for some increased interest in labor delivery as a route for nurses to pick. We need goo people,” he said.

Whitaker said the addition will be a huge plus for nurse training.

“It can simulate many of the problems that can occur during the time a person is in labor. When student nurses come on labor and delivery as I mentioned in those few words I had to say out there you can see the panic in their eyes. They know what they don’t know, and that frightens them,” he said. “Having something like this that they can see and be part of learning what can occur is invaluable.”

Whitaker and his family joined university leaders and The Miracle Riders for the ribbon cutting of the new lab.

The Miracle Riders traveled cross-country last year to raise thousands for it.

For the last 14 years, they’ve ridden their motorcycles to many places to raise money for the community.

“We want to make a difference in one child’s life, that’s what we ride 10,000 miles a year for,” said founder of the Miracle Riders, Scott Ressmeyer.

The riders will be hitting the roads again this year to support CSU for a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) simulation lab.

According to Ressmeyer, they are trying to raise a total of one million, and they’ve already raised a good amount from their previous rides for CSU.

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