Imagine this: a tornado devastates the area. All the beds at local hospitals are full. So you're sent to Towson University.
It's a likely scenario, so nursing students are getting on board in case you become their patient. Sophomore Spencer Baum played the part of a tornado victim. He's disoriented, with blood dripping from a head wound.
"We ended up just putting pressure dressings on him because he needs to be moved to the hospital," said Melanie Tippett, Towson nursing student.
This is a mock scenario. But if a tornado came through the area and local hospitals were at capacity you could very well end up here at Towson University being treated by nursing students.
So that's why the National Guard and other partners in the community are watching nursing students turn their book knowledge into real life.
The students are critiqued and working relationships are formed, in case of the inevitable.
"This is more real world than we've ever gotten to experience because we have people coming in, we don't know their status, and we're not prepped beforehand. So we really have to face everything as it comes," said Heather Crocetti, Towson nursing student.
Towson University would be an overflow site if hospitals feel the crunch. The nursing faculty and the students would treat patients.
"If there really were a mass event, then they would very much be beholden to work as well and provide some assistance," said Dr. Marcie Weinstein, associate dean of the College of Health Professions.
Over 100 nursing students took part in the event. Those from other majors played victims. It's community service work today and perhaps reality tomorrow.
"If I'm helping out other people who will eventually help me out in the long run then it's fine," said Baum.
