Southwestern Michigan College recently opened an new space for their nursing program which includes state of the art medical simulations.
The $9.6 million facility is a renovation and expansion of the college’s existing space. It includes new classrooms and exam spaces, but also a brand new simulation lab.
The sim lab is coordinated by Amber Villwock. She said it provides a more realistic learning environment for the students.
“They didn’t have the capacity to talk. They didn’t have the capacity to bleed or anything like that, whereas all of these now do ”
The lab includes three new adult manikins, including Alex,who can respond in real time, like a smart speaker, to the student’s questions. Also a mother who can actually give birth.
There is one child and three baby manikins as well.
SMC’s nursing program takes two classes of 40 each year. David Fleming is the Vice President of Instruction at SMC. He said they’ve left room to grow and hope to take more students in the future.
“We’re hoping to maybe expand to 60 sometime in the future, given this additional space. And nursing students are the best kind of students. They’re always around, and their energy level is amazing so this space really fits well for them.”
Fleming said they also hope to add new degrees and certificate offerings.
The space was funded partially through a $4 million grant from the state. An effort to put a dent in the nationwide nursing shortage. The rest came from private donors and from the college’s buildings fund.
Construction took just over a year to complete. Student have been in the new classrooms and labs for just over a week.