MDH Donates Hospital Beds to WIU School of Nursing

Story courtesy WIU Office of Communications and Marketing

MACOMB, Ill. -  The Western Illinois University School of Nursing's clinical labs recently received an upgrade through a generous donation from McDonough District Hospital.

MDH's Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer, Courtney McCredie, toured the lab facilities with WIU School of Nursing Director Patricia Eathington in July. Following that tour, McCredie reconnected with Eathington and offered for MDH to supply the WIU School of Nursing with four decommissioned hospital beds. The beds were delivered and installed in Currens Hall in mid-September.

The four fully refurbished beds, valued at nearly $14,000, provide nursing students with vital tools to strengthen their hands-on learning experience. The beds are enhancing clinical simulations and training, offering students real-world experience in patient care before entering their professional practice.

"McDonough District Hospital and the MDH Nursing Administration are so proud to support the Western Illinois University School of Nursing. We understand the importance of students learning in an environment that supports evidence-based practice and it is our hope that this gift updates their learning environment a bit and helps in shaping these aspiring nurses into great patient advocates," McCredie said.

This gift expands upon MDH's longtime support of WIU and is already making an immediate and lasting impact on WIU's nursing program, giving students access to modern medical equipment similar to what they will encounter in hospitals and other healthcare settings.

"The School of Nursing is thrilled to extend our deepest gratitude to McDonough District Hospital for their generous donation of hospital beds. This contribution will have a lasting impact on our students by enhancing the learning environment in our nursing labs, allowing for hands-on experience that closely mirrors real-world clinical settings," Eathington said.

Students, faculty and WIU administrators were on hand in September to meet MDH staff when the beds were delivered. During the delivery, McCredie and MDH President & Chief Executive Officer, Bill Murdock, spoke with first-year nursing students and shared advice on their future careers.

"McDonough District Hospital has been a steadfast supporter of our institution, and this latest contribution further exemplifies their commitment to nurturing the next generation of nurses. Our partnership with the hospital goes beyond a clinical practice relationship; it represents a shared vision of providing high-quality healthcare for the residents of McDonough County and surrounding communities. We look forward to many more years of working together for the betterment of healthcare education and practice in our community," Eathington said.

Donors wishing to support the WIU School of Nursing or any other program within the College of Arts & Sciences can contact Director of Development Amy Crosby at al-crosby@wiu.edu.