BRTC Receives Over $140,000 Blue and You Grant for RN Program at AMMC in Paragould

AMMC president Barry Davis, Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas’s Northeast Regional Executive Todd Holt, Black River Technical College President Martin Eggensperger

POCAHONTAS, AR  Jan. 28 — On January 22, Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas’s Northeast Regional Executive Todd Holt presented a grant check to Black River Technical College President Martin Eggensperger for $148,387. The funds will be used to purchase a SimMan3G manikin and MedDispense equipment for the new traditional registered nursing program’s teaching facility at AMMC in Paragould.

On January 9, BRTC was approved to offer an Associate of Applied Science in Registered Nursing via the traditional pathway. The traditional pathway, upon completion of prerequisite general studies courses, will enable students to apply for acceptance into a registered nursing program without first being an LPN.

The AMMC location in Paragould will be one of the two daytime program teaching sites. All funds from the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas grant will be used on equipment for just the AMMC Paragould facility.

“This equipment will provide an avenue on which nursing students may practice patient care,” said Ramonda Housh, BRTC Dean of Nursing & Allied Health and director of the RN program. “The SimMan manikins are very realistic and provide the practice student nurses need before they transition to working on real people.”

Students are currently being advised for the program and applications will be open February 1st through April 1st. For more information, contact Dana Clay, Allied Health Academic Advisor, at 8702484150 or email danac@blackrivertech.edu.