FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

April 11, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT:

Lisa Slappy, Chief Communications Officer

410-386-8184 | lslappy@carrollcc.edu

Mass Casualty Exercise Prepares Nursing Students for Emergency Response

As part of their rigorous training in emergency preparedness and response, nursing students at Carroll Community College (Carroll) participated in a Mass Casualty Exercise on April 3rd and April 10th on campus where a simulated emergency unfolded, testing the students' ability to triage, assess, and provide immediate care to multiple victims. 

The exercise aims to simulate a real-life scenario where students can apply 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 is a way to introduce nursing methods such as triaging and reinforce prioritization and collaboration to nursing students in their fourth term.

“Carroll’s Nursing Program has really prepared us for what we are going to see in the outside world,” said Courtney Witmer, a fourth-term nursing student.

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. 

The scenario involved various injuries and medical conditions, requiring students to collaborate with each other and emergency responders to ensure the best possible outcomes for the simulated patients. 

This Mass Casualty Exercise is a collaborative effort between Carroll and local emergency response agencies, including Carroll Community College Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) and Paramedic students, Carroll County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Carroll Hospital Center Emergency Room Director, Management, and Nursing. 

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 compliments their classroom learning and prepares them for the realities of healthcare delivery in dynamic environments.

“Participating in a disaster simulation can provide an opportunity to develop clinical judgment, refine prioritization skills, and enhance collaboration with emergency responders. These simulations offer a safe environment for students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-life scenarios, allowing them to make critical decisions under pressure,” said Britney Harden, Assistant Professor of Nursing and Organizer of this Exercise. 

In addition, the students had the opportunity to collaborate within interprofessional groupings to complete patient care. This allowed for clear communication within the situation and during the debrief. The students' working alongside their classmates and their instructors allowed recognition of the acute and long-term impact of an event such as this. 

“It was a great learning experience. It was good to have a safe setting in which we could practice if an incident like this happens,” said Kim Darby, a fourth-term nursing student.

The safety and well-being of all participants are top priorities for exercises like this. Strict safety protocols were in place, and professional medical staff supervised the entire event to ensure a safe and effective learning environment. 

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

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/