School of Nursing’s Rob Roy and Wendy McKenzie beside one of six beds donated to ASK Wellness Society. The beds were delivered June 18, 2015.

When friends help friends, everybody wins.

The School of Nursing (SON) has upgraded some of its training beds and in doing so, has donated six of its older training beds along with five bedside tables to ASK Wellness Society. ASK is a Kamloops and Merritt organization and helps those involved in, or affected by, risky behaviours by providing education and opportunities to live independently and with a better quality of life. Those with HIV, Hepatitis C, and sex trade workers are among ASK’s clients.

Because SON and ASK have a long history of providing educational opportunities for each other—workshops and practicums are two examples—there wasn’t a doubt where the beds should go. Though more than 10 years old and used by thousands of students, the pieces look like they arrived yesterday. That’s because instead of being used for many hours each day, they see use during labs with students and mannequins serving as patients.

“I’m in regular contact with ASK and know that they’re always in need of furniture,” said Rob Roy, SON’s simulation equipment technician and lab assistant. “When the question arose of what to do with the beds, ASK became an obvious choice.”

ASK received the beds on June 18 and will find a home in any of the housing options owned and run by the organization.

Wendy McKenzie is SON’s lab and simulator coordinator and is happy to see the equipment will have many more years of life in them.

“We’re all in the healthcare field and we all want to support each other,” said McKenzie. “We’re all one community sharing the same goal of helping people.”

Through the years, students using the training beds: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Health Care Assistant, Education Assistant and Community Support, and Open Learning health sciences.

Nursing paid for its new beds through donor gifts.