With shortages of nurses and nursing faculty members looming, the recent completion of an extensive renovation project will not only improve nursing education and boost morale, it also will help recruit more students and faculty members at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing West Nebraska Division in Scottsbluff.
The public is invited to see the renovation during an open house Monday, Sept. 22, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center at 4502 Avenue I. There will be tours, patient simulator demonstrations, and refreshments.
The renovation in the 1960s-era building was funded by UNMC and the University of Nebraska Foundation, with support from the community.
The renovation includes remodeled and expanded classrooms, lounge and work areas for students and faculty, new technology, new walls, carpet and paint. Ceilings were lowered to improve heating and air conditioning efficiency.
“The students are thrilled,” said Susan Wilhelm, Ph.D., assistant dean of the UNMC College of Nursing West Nebraska Division. “The renovation includes a larger, remodeled student lounge, where students can study and socialize and have a home away-from home.”
The building now is wireless, which will enable students who own their own laptops to access the Internet.
Six classrooms were remodeled, one classroom was added, and one doubled in size. With a new computer lab, students now have 24-hour access to 18 computers, which will be particularly helpful to students who don’t have computers and provide a place for students to study together, said Dr. Wilhelm.
Classrooms also will be equipped with the latest in distance education technology using Internet Protocol videoconferencing, which sends two-way audio and video signals via the Internet for viewing on large television monitors. Besides better quality video, less transmission delay and reduced technical problems, the technology also has expanded the number of classes available to students.
The facility also is equipped with new, high resolution 60-inch plasma screens that display live video of the instructor and students participating in classes on the other UNMC College of Nursing campuses. Ceiling-mounted microphones will allow students to communicate with the instructor and students in other locations as if they were there in person.
A new system allows faculty to control teaching tools, such as video, PowerPoint, and allows for simultaneous display of the instructor’s presentation along with instructional videos and illustrative materials. Nine-foot screens allow greater visibility of the instructor’s presentation.
The one clinical skills laboratory that was used to teach clinical skills in realistic outpatient clinic and hospital settings, has been expanded into three laboratories and includes new beds, equipment and technology.
The renovation project also funded the addition of three more pediatric and adult human patient simulators, bringing the total to six. Some of the simulators are high-tech, life-size mannequins that have pulses, heart, lung and bowel sounds and can breathe, speak, bleed and react to treatment. With computer programming, the simulators can exhibit symptoms of disease conditions and talk.
Jordan Colwell, nursing student at the division said it feels like a whole new facility. When he began class as a new student a few years ago, he was disappointed in the facilities. His goal was to address concerns of fellow students. Colwell represented students when discussions began on renovation plans.
“I’m just amazed at the 180 we did, thanks to Dean Tilden, Dr. Sue Wilhelm and everyone who went to bat for us” Colwell said. “The students are excited to have state-of-the-art equipment. I think I’m most excited about the new simulation lab where faculty members watch us perform patient skills behind a glass. I feel like I’m the nurse in the room with the patient.”
As part of the renovation, the college has received a $2,500 matching grant from the Oregon Trail Community Foundation. The college has purchased two laptop computers for students and faculty to use in support of community health projects such as presenting health topics to the community, conducting health screenings at health fairs and kindergarten through 12th grade school health screenings.
The division in Scottsbluff employs 17 faculty members and staff and has 140 students. Faculty are engaged in teaching, research, as well as nursing practice in hospital, outpatient and community clinic settings. Many of its graduates seek employment in the local area. It is the only institution with a bachelor’s degree in nursing program in a 150-mile area.
UNMC is the only public health science center in the state. Its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through their commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology and ophthalmology. UNMC’s research funding from external sources now exceeds $82 million annually and has resulted in the creation of more than 2,400 highly skilled jobs in the state. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 513 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.
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