CHARLESTON, W.Va. — With the help of two West Virginia University School of Nursing faculty, dozens of young Mountaineers learned how to locate and hear a heartbeat on SAM, a Student Auscultation Manikin from the WV STEPS Center, during the 2022 WVU Day at the Legislature.
Kathy Atassi, an assistant professor at the Charleston campus, and Teresa Ritchie, coordinator of the Family Nurse Practitioner Program, volunteered for the event, leading heartbeat demonstrations, speaking with lawmakers and alumni, and offering information about nursing programs.
The School of Nursing booth offered giveaways such as multi-color ink pens, nursing buttons and markers, as well as a single-use stethoscope for anyone who participated in the interactive SAM display. The young visitors especially enjoyed having a stethoscope to take home with them.
"It was so refreshing to see excitement on the faces of the kids who stopped by to listen to ‘SAM's heart,’” Ritchie said. “Each child was given a stethoscope to listen, and when they heard the ‘heartbeat,’ their eyes lit up. They were so excited.”
Ritchie said getting students interested in a career in nursing while they’re young is important.
"WVU Day at the Legislature gave us the opportunity to plant a seed for these young kids to someday be a nurse,” Ritchie said. “It was truly a privilege to share about the nursing profession and about how nurses care for people. They asked questions and many said, ‘Yes, I want to be a nurse’ or ‘I want to be the nurse that takes care of babies.’"
Atassi, too, said she really enjoyed talking to children about the profession of nursing. Several adults who were associate degree nurses asked for information about continuing their education, too. Several legislators even stopped by to share their support of the nursing profession and discuss related legislation.
“Making those connections and reinforcing the need for support from our legislators was a great opportunity,” Atassi said. “It is important to be visible and vocal in our communities. This was my first time attending the WVU Day at the Legislature for the School of Nursing, and I hope it's not my last!”
Hosted by WVU and WVU Extension, WVU Day at the Legislature was held Jan. 25 at the West Virginia State Capitol to celebrate the reach of WVU’s academic programs, research and outreach efforts. A host of interactive activities and exhibits were offered for visitors, including STEM activities, academic career exploration, health care displays, safety and more.
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CONTACT: Wendy Holdren
Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU School of Nursing
304-581-1772; wendy.holdren@hsc.wvu.edu