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Nurses have more lab space at VC

Ribbon cutting set for Monday at new college health science center

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  • Rubi Reyes •
  • Originally published January 23, 2009 at 11:50 p.m., updated January 23, 2009 at 11:50 p.m.

Crowded classrooms are a thing of the past for the students in the nursing department at Victoria College.

The new Health Science Center is now open and serving students.

The center was paid for by part of the $15.5 million bond that was approved by voters in May 2006.

"The new building has provided a state-of-the-art learning environment for health science students at Victoria College," said LeAnn Wagner, Allied Health dean for VC.

The building houses 11 classrooms and lecture halls, seven laboratories, six study halls/tutoring rooms, a resource center, four state-of-the art simulation centers, three computer labs, five conference facilities, two large classroom/laboratories, 49 faculty office suites and The Grind, a coffee bar with a commons area for students.

"The students tend to come in early and stay late, so having a snack bar with a very comfortable area where they can enjoy snacks is positive for students and faculty alike," Wagner said.

The students and instructors agree that the new building has given them much more classroom space and study space.

"This building is beautiful and now the students have somewhere to study," said Konnie Prince, associates degree nursing instructor for VC.

The original Allied Health building was built in 1974 with three additions made over the years, Wagner said.

"The first Allied Health program was the Vocational Nursing Program, which started in 1959 with classes held in a building that no longer exists," she said.

After more than 30 years of use, the Allied Health Center was bursting at the seams with growing numbers of students and faculty.

"The classrooms were so full that we had to relocate to other buildings just to conduct class," said Rachel Shafer, 27, registered nurse level 4 program student.

Because of the lack of space in the health center, instructors had to move full classrooms to the VC Student Center conference rooms.

"We don't have to worry about not fitting in the classroom now," Shafer said. "There is more than enough room now."

Students also had problems finding a place to study.

"Because the classrooms were all being used, students had to bounce from room to room looking for an empty one to study in," Prince said.

The students now have various study halls they can use and computer labs for research, said Nyssa Waak, 24, RN level 4 student.

"We have bigger labs and more access to practice our skills," she said.

The four stimulation labs are used by students and instructors. There are one-sided mirrors in the simulation rooms where the instructor can view the student and patient, a breathing manikin.

"The only way for students to learn is to practice on patients," Prince said. "We can control the manikin so students will feel as if they are dealing with a real patient."

This is the first semester of operation for the HSC building. The ribbon cutting will be held on Monday as part of VC Pirates Day activities.

  • MONDAY'S PIRATE DAY ACTIVITIES

    10 a.m. at the Museum of the Coastal Bend: Museum of the Coastal Bend Book Club Series featuring Rev. Carroll Pickett, Victoria College Alumnus and author of "Within These Walls: Memoirs of a Death House Chaplain"

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    • MONDAY'S PIRATE DAY ACTIVITIES

    10 a.m. at the Museum of the Coastal Bend: Museum of the Coastal Bend Book Club Series featuring Rev. Carroll Pickett, Victoria College Alumnus and author of "Within These Walls: Memoirs of a Death House Chaplain"

    11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the VC Student Center: Get-Back-in-the-Groove Party for Victoria College students

    11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ribbon cutting and tours of the new Health Sciences Center

    1 p.m. "At the Death House Door" screening and Q&A with Pickett, fine arts auditorium.

    3 to 4:30 p.m. Campus tours will leave every 15 minutes from the VC Fine Arts Auditorium

    4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Alumni Reunion, VC Student Center

    7 p.m. Men's basketball game-VC Pirates vs Coastal Bend College

    For more information, visit: http://www.victoriacollege.edu/vcpiratesday



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