FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 6, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT:

Lisa Slappy, Chief Communications and Public Relations Officer

410-386-8184 | lslappy@carrollcc.edu

Carroll Community College Held Nursing Mass Casualty Simulation Exercise Event highlights the College’s role in addressing nursing shortage

As part of their comprehensive training in emergency preparedness and response, nursing students at Carroll Community College participated in a Mass Casualty Exercise on April 23rd at the Carroll County Public Safety Training Center. During this simulation, students were challenged to triage, assess, and provide immediate care to multiple victims.

The exercise was a collaborative effort between Carroll and local emergency response agencies, including Physical Therapist Assistant and Paramedic students from Carroll Community College, as well as Carroll County Emergency Services. This training is so important as Maryland is among the states with the largest projected shortages of RNs through 2037. It’s estimated that Maryland will have a shortfall of 13,590 nurses by 2037 according to a November 2024 National Center for Health Workforce Analysis report.

The exercise aimed to simulate a real-life scenario where students applied their skills and knowledge in a controlled environment, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle emergencies effectively in their future careers as healthcare professionals. The simulation introduced nursing methods such as triaging and reinforced prioritization and collaboration to nursing students in their fourth term.

The event featured a simulation of a natural disaster with secondary explosions, where students triaged and cared for volunteer victims portraying various injuries, including burns, wounds, respiratory distress, and mental health crises.

“The time, effort, and thoughtful planning invested by the College nursing faculty in this simulation clearly demonstrate their dedication to preparing students to become exceptional nurses. The demanding and challenging curriculum is intentional—it ensures that graduates are fully equipped to provide the highest standard of care,” said nursing student, Jessica Dell.

A primary objective of this exercise was to ensure that the students could work in a high- pressure and immediate situation. During the training, nursing students faced various challenges, including managing limited resources, prioritizing patient care, and working under pressure.

“Nurses play a crucial role in providing essential medical care and support to those affected during disasters,” said nursing student Andrea Owings.

These exercises are essential for nursing students to develop critical thinking skills, teamwork, and confidence in their clinical practice. By experiencing simulated emergencies, students gain valuable hands-on experience that complements their classroom learning and prepares them for the realities of healthcare delivery in dynamic environments.

During the week of May 6 -12 we celebrate National Nurses Week shining a light on the power of nurses. We recognize the invaluable contributions of nurses and the challenges they face every day. Maryland is in the top 5 metropolitan areas with the highest employment level of registered nurses, along with New York, California, Illinois, and Texas, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages 2023 report. https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes291141.htm

“By providing real-world disaster experience, this event not only enhanced students’ technical nursing skills but also fostered invaluable teamwork and communication. As future nurses continue to face unexpected challenges in both every day and crisis situations, these types of simulations will play a key role in improving the outcomes of future real-life events,” said Britney Harden, Assistant Professor of Nursing.

“This immersive experience equips the students with the necessary skills to deliver competent and compassionate care during real-life crises, ” said Harden.

Nursing school enrollment is not growing fast enough to meet the projected demand for nursing services, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nurses. Carroll remains committed to providing its students with a comprehensive and experiential education, preparing them to excel as compassionate and skilled healthcare professionals.

For more information about the program, go to: https://www.carrollcc.edu/programs/degrees-credit-certificates/nursing-registered-nurse-a-s/

Table 1 shows 2018 employment and projected employment in 2028 for the five nurse occupations.

Overall, BLS projects these occupations to add about 511,500 jobs from 2018 to 2028.