Nurse training program expands

From the first time Penny Whealdon, a nursing student at Washington State Community College, observed an operating room procedure, she was hooked.

"Oh my gosh, I was amazed," Whealdon said. "It was during our hospital experience. I was so impressed with the care and respect the patients received."

Whealdon, 34, of Oak Grove, a second-year nursing student, now plans to direct her attention and continuing study toward perioperative nursing.

"I would love to contribute and be a part of it," she said.

For the first time, Washington State will offer a course for operating room nurses. It begins with the next quarter, Jan. 9, and will be offered on Wednesday evenings. Six people have already signed up for the course.

"It's ready to go," said Dixie Vaughan, dean of Health Sciences. "This course is an opportunity for us to offer something to benefit nurses already out in the field, as well as our own second-year students."

Early planning showed that there will be future need of operating room nurses in the region, according to Joyce Joy, director of the Associate Degree Nursing Program and course developer.

"I'm excited about the course," Joy said. "Local hospitals originally approached us about this."

Vaughan said the program is geared for registered nurses who might want to specialize, but second-year Washington State nursing students will also benefit.

"We saw this as a need," she said. "It will certainly benefit nurses already out in the field."

Marietta Memorial Hospital, along with Camden-Clark Memorial and St. Joseph's hospitals in Parkersburg, have expressed interest in the new program.

"We currently do not have a shortage of perioperative nurses, but we are always forecasting ahead and want to be proactive," said Tatum Woods, director of nursing at Marietta Memorial.

An aging nursing work force, with many veteran nurses approaching retirement, is creating concern at hospitals across the nation.

"Nurses interested in a change in specialties may be interested in this course," Woods said. "It will be good for students and for our registered nurses as a refresher course."

Jennifer Offenberger, director of communication and public relations, said an operating room nurse requires six to eight months of additional training. That's why this course is vital.

"This course would shorten the orientation time and is an opportunity for nurses who are thinking they might like to do OR (operating room), but would like to first see if this is a good fit for them," Offenberger said.

Local hospitals have been working with Washington State for months in helping develop the course.

"We're here to help in all our clinical sites," Vaughan said.

Whealdon is excited about the new class, which begins in January.

"I believe it will be a great extra learning experience for me," she said. "A nurse has to be an advocate in the operating room for her patient. My mom has always done home nursing, and I got that caring and nurturing aspect of it."

She was a stay-at-home mom until deciding to return to school, first the Washington County Career Center, as a medical assistant. Her goal now is an associate degree in nursing, but that may not be enough either.

"I'm almost finished, but I could say that I want more. I'm loving it," she said.

Those interested in taking the course still have time to enroll, she said.