TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The clinical skills laboratory for nurses at The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing has received a donation of state of the art oxygen monitoring equipment and additional educational resources thanks to a national collaboration of two nursing associations and a leading healthcare technology manufacturer.

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) have partnered with Nellcor to donate advanced-technology Nellcor® pulse oximeters and educational resources to 125 schools of nursing in 48 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Pulse oximeters are routinely used in critical care units and increasingly in many other patient care areas. Pulse oximeters offer a cost-effective way to measure a patient’s heart rate and the amount of oxygen in the blood non-invasively, that is, without needing to pierce the skin.

“Nursing students at the Capstone will benefit greatly from both the educational resources and the Nellcor pulse oximeter,” said Dr. Sara E. Barger, dean of the UA Capstone College of Nursing. “We trust this gift will encourage other companies to come forward to work with us by providing state-of-the-art equipment to educate our next generation of nurses.”

The donation provides Nellcor N-395 Pulse Oximeters and educational materials to schools selected by AACN and AONE. The donation is valued at $5,000. Each selected school will also have access to the expertise of Nellcor’s field-based team of hospital clinical consultants.

“At a time when the entire healthcare continuum is strapped for resources, generosity like Nellcor’s is sorely needed,” said AACN President Connie Barden. “We were frankly overwhelmed by requests for technology and training materials and are pleased to accommodate 125 nursing programs with this initial donation. Incorporating sophisticated technology into the core education of new nurses will help ensure the safety and efficacy of nursing care.”

“This program is a classic demonstration of how professional organizations and industry can work together to create a lasting impact,” commented AONE President Rita Turley.

“Nellcor's generous support of education and technology will impact an entire generation of nurses, and the countless patients for whom they care over the course of their careers,” Turley said.

“We are very pleased at the reception to our partnership with American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and the American Organization of Nurse Executives,” said Chris Jones, Nellcor vice president of marketing. “Clinical education has been a cornerstone of our company for over 20 years. We are proud to support the nurses in every stage of their careers – from education to clinical practice.”

The Capstone College of Nursing, founded in 1976, graduates approximately 100 nurses a year from its baccalaureate program. Its graduate program for nurse case managers is one of the most innovative in the country. Partnerships with many of Alabama’s community colleges make obtaining a bachelor’s or master’s in nursing a realistic goal for registered nurses. With more than 600 students and 28 faculty, the College supplies RNs and nurse case managers to many Alabama health care facilities and others throughout the United States. The College also runs a primary care clinic in rural Alabama to provide care for rural patients and rural learning experiences for students.

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world, with approximately 65,000 members. Its international headquarters are located in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Founded in 1969, the Association now has more than 250 chapters worldwide and is working toward a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and families, where critical care nurses make their optimal contribution.

Founded in 1967, the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association, is a national organization of nearly 4,000 nurses who design, facilitate, and manage care. Its mission is to represent nurse leaders who improve healthcare. AONE members are leaders in collaboration and catalysts for innovation.

Nellcor, a business unit of Tyco Healthcare, is dedicated to developing innovative, clinically relevant medical products with an emphasis on noninvasive patient safety monitoring and respiratory care. A part of Tyco Healthcare, Nellcor is the world’s foremost supplier of pulse oximetry and airway management products. The company also offers a wide range of products for measuring and regulating patient body temperature.