In the course itself, we are combining chemical engineering students and nursing students into interdisciplinary teams and we are challenging those teams to identify a problem, Chemical Engineering Professor Robby Sanders said. We like to think of those problems as opportunities. So, they identify and opportunity and then develop a prototype solution that is responsive to that opportunity.
Recently, the students had an opportunity to explore a LifeFlight helicopter, responsible for transporting critically ill or injured patients to appropriate care facilities.
Some of the things they see in the hospital have to be modified to fit into LifeFlight, Nursing Professor Melissa Geist said. The Life Flight crew was kind enough to give our students a tour of this helicopter and point out how those devices have to change.
It was a real-life exploration of the same types of challenges the students are exploring in class and an opportunity to talk with professionals working in the field.
This would probably be for me, my dream job, the ultimate critical care job in nursing, Senior Nursing Major Hailey Roberts said.
The course is also giving students a different perspective on their fields of study.
This clinical immersion class it is really neat to see how these fields come together and how these two fields actually interact every day with each other, Senior Chemical Engineering Major Joshua Swain said.
The course is being funded through the university s quality enhancement plan program and a faculty grant from VentureWell, a non-profit organization focused on promoting innovation in higher education, and the Lemelson Foundation.
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