Clinical setting prepares nurses for real world scenarios
By Lenita Powers, Reno Gazette-Journal
A newly renovated nursing wing dedicated at Truckee Meadows Community College will better prepare students to deal with real life hospital situations, said Karen Fontaine, director of TMCC’s nursing program.
She said it is a boon to nursing students because of increased pressure from potential employers to hire graduates who have been exposed to clinical settings.
“A student might not see a diabetic with low blood pressure, but we can create that situation by simulating a hospital experience,” she said. “One of the best things about simulations is students do get to learn the skills they need; but the best thing is it really helps them develop their critical thinking skills.”
The $550,000 renovation of the nursing wing at the college’s main Dandini Campus north of Reno includes a simulation laboratory and medication dispensing system as well as an electronic medical record-keeping system.