OCTC Nursing Faculty Partner with Humane Society

Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) faculty are resourceful, and the nursing faculty are keenly aware of the financial strains on a program that must use disposable resources to train students. But they never expected that resourcefulness to lead to a partnership with the Owensboro Humane Society. At first that might sound like an odd partnership, but sharing valuable resources is second nature to both of these non-profit institutions.

Teresa Hall, a nursing faculty member has been taking her to students to visit Louisville's Supplies Over Seas (SOS) for the past couple of years. SOS gathers and distributes expired or outdated equipment for teaching institutions, animal shelters, or overseas. During their visit to SOS the students help organize and sort the supplies. In return, they bring an assortment of items back to use at the college. After their summer trip to SOS this summer Hall and Tabitha Drane, an RN Simulation Specialist, realized they had an excess of supplies.

They contacted the Owensboro Humane Society, who were grateful for the provisions. Tonya Marksberry at the Owensboro Humane Society commented, "We felt like it was Christmas opening those donations for the clinic! The skin preps, drape material, IV start kits, thumb forceps, and alcohol were used immediately. We are very grateful that they thought of us!"

Hall added, "It gives our students a unique perspective to see the large amount of supplies that, for one reason or another, are unable to be used. It also makes them aware that we are our community and others benefit from their efforts, even indirectly.

OCTC is currently enrolling for classes beginning in August, the OCTC Nursing program is a selective admissions program. Students interested in a exploring nursing as a career may contact, Terri Lanham at 270-686-4548 or via email at terri.lanham@kctcs.edu. Students may apply to OCTC online at owensboro.kctcs.edu and select Apply or visit the START Center on the main campus at 4800 New Hartford Road, Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.