by Sarah Mummert, Student Public Relations Writer
A baby shower for a birthing manikin is a unique event, but the Cedarville University School of Nursing used this creative opportunity to support New Path Pregnancy Resource Center.
The event celebrated Cedarville’s new birthing simulator, Victoria. The manikin was added to Cedarville’s family of simulators in the spring to provide more real-life experience for nursing students.
“We don’t often get a new simulator, so it’s fun to celebrate,” said Nate Kincaid, assistant professor of nursing and the initiator of the event. “This is a great opportunity to celebrate our new manikin and also honor our community.”
The November event was open to nursing majors as part of the school of nursing’s WIN initiative, which fosters health and wellness for nurses.
Cedarville’s Student Nurses Association (SNA) took Kincaid’s idea, organized the shower and identified a way to present gifts to real moms. Students and faculty donated more than 75 gifts including cash, diapers, wipes, clothes and children’s books.
“It’s neat to get the chance to celebrate new resources within our department while also supporting a pregnancy resource center with baby supplies,” said Ally Stinger, a senior majoring in nursing from Springfield, Ohio. “We are thankful that this baby shower will bless the moms who are choosing life for their babies.”
Cedarville regularly partners with New Path. Several Cedarville faculty members have volunteered at the center, and staff from the center host discussion panels with Cedarville students in the Care of Mothers and Newborns class.
“New Path has helped us out by coming to campus, pouring into students and sharing about what they do and the impact of their work,” said Kincaid. “This is a way to give back to them and thank them for what they do not only for us but for young women and families in our community.”
While the event is closed to the public, donations can still be made at the New Path Pregnancy Resource Center website.
Cedarville University, a Baptist institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by the Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics, and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.