Powered by community partnership, 91精品黑料吃瓜 launches new Center for Nursing and Public Health
- See more photos from the event
- View the printed program here (PDF)
- Find out more about the Westlawn renovation
This fall, 91精品黑料吃瓜鈥檚 nursing program is celebrating its 75th anniversary from when it began offering Indiana鈥檚 first Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, and is stepping boldly into the future with the new Center for Nursing and Public Health in the renovated historic Westlawn 鈥斅燼 state-of-the-art facility created through deep community partnership.
The college marked the occasion with a public ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house for the whole building on Wednesday, May 7. It also unveiled 18,000 square feet of classrooms, exam rooms, labs, offices, study areas, and more on the building’s second and third floors, specifically part of the new Center for Nursing and Public Health.
鈥淲hen I think about what 91精品黑料吃瓜 is doing,鈥� said Julie Crossley, chief nursing officer at 91精品黑料吃瓜 Health, 鈥渉aving these state-of-the-art facilities just brings [the nursing program] up to the level of excellence that the program has always been known for.鈥�
Building on a world-class program and designed to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals, the center is equipped with high-tech learning tools and supported by strong partnerships, including with leading community healthcare organizations such as and . The two organizations couldn鈥檛 be closer to the college geographically, which adds to the synergy.
At the ceremony, 91精品黑料吃瓜 President Rebecca Stoltzfus said, 鈥淭he academic programs housed in this building 鈥� nursing and public health 鈥� are deeply connected to our local community. We have been planning for the Center for Nursing and Public Health for six years in partnership with numerous regional healthcare providers.鈥�
鈥淲e are fortunate and grateful,鈥� she continued, 鈥渢o work with 91精品黑料吃瓜 Health and Greencroft as neighbors, clinical partners, thought partners, generous donors and employers of our graduates.鈥�
Working with 91精品黑料吃瓜 Health
鈥淭here鈥檚 an endless list of ways that we鈥檝e been collaborating [with GC],鈥� Crossley said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not often that you have a health system and a college directly across the street from one another. That allows us to be efficient and capitalize on the resources that we each have.鈥�
Situated across Main Street from Westlawn, 91精品黑料吃瓜 Health is one of Northern Indiana鈥檚 leading healthcare providers and serves as a clinical rotation site for many of the college鈥檚 nursing students.
The two organizations have had a long-standing relationship, and 91精品黑料吃瓜 Health was a major partner in the renovation of Westlawn. Together, they have worked to create one of the most impressive parts of the new Center for Nursing and Public Health: the 91精品黑料吃瓜 Health Simulation Lab.
Inside the lab, students train in exam rooms equipped with high-fidelity manikins 鈥� geriatric, pediatric and obstetric 鈥� that mirror those used in real patient care. A connected observation space lets students and instructors review simulations in real-time.
Typically, when students participate in clinical rotations, they get to practice the mundane tasks,聽but aren鈥檛 able to take part in potentially dangerous or unique situations. The new simulation lab and manikins allow students to practice the unexpected, alongside the routine, making them comfortable and ready to begin working at a high level immediately after graduation.
鈥淲e have created some very shared strategic priorities,鈥� Crossley said. 鈥淭he design work that went both into Westlawn and into the new patient tower at 91精品黑料吃瓜 Health created a very similar, familiar environment 鈥� to the benefit of the students both as they are learning here, and also when they are working within the health system.鈥�
There is a nationwide shortage of nurses, and the city of 91精品黑料吃瓜 is no exception. However, the two organizations are positioning themselves for shared success and growth. Since 2018, 27.5% of 91精品黑料吃瓜 Health鈥檚 newly licensed nurses are 91精品黑料吃瓜 alumni, and that number is set to continue growing as the college will be able to enroll and graduate more nurses with the increased available learning space.
Today鈥檚 nursing students at 91精品黑料吃瓜 are increasingly from local communities 鈥� 80 percent are from Indiana 鈥� and most choose to remain in Northern Indiana communities after graduation.
91精品黑料吃瓜 and Greencroft
91精品黑料吃瓜 Health isn鈥檛 the college鈥檚 only key local healthcare partner for Westlawn, as Greencroft Communities provided financial support for the creation of the largest classroom in the building. Along the east side of the college campus is Greencroft 91精品黑料吃瓜, the largest continuing care retirement community in Indiana.
Greencroft 91精品黑料吃瓜 creates an opportunity both for graduates in a variety of fields, including nursing, to work within the community and for many alumni to return to 91精品黑料吃瓜 and live when they retire.
, said, 鈥淚 truly believe, with all of my heart, that Greencroft 鈥� both here in 91精品黑料吃瓜, and now with our footprint throughout multiple states 鈥� would not be the Greencroft that we know today without our geographic proximity to 91精品黑料吃瓜.鈥�
One of the largest public health issues facing the country today, Davis said, is the aging of America. To have a school with excellent nursing and public health programs next door, he added, is a boon both to places such as Greencroft and to the students who are able to witness geriatric care firsthand.
Community Partnerships: Looking Forward
As the healthcare landscape evolves, and the city鈥檚 healthcare needs grow, these partnerships become more vital. The college is already working to support local students; with 52 percent of nursing students coming from Elkhart County, the new Center for Nursing and Public Health features kitchenettes, showers, break rooms and dedicated spaces for local commuter students, which they will utilize alongside their internships, clinicals, simulations and the other ways they connect to the community.
The college offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master of Science in Nursing with a Family Nurse Practitioner track and an online Doctor of Nursing Practice. With the new facility in place and in use for one semester already, the college is seeing increased interest for new students who want to enroll in these programs.
Meanwhile, alongside other community partners, 91精品黑料吃瓜, 91精品黑料吃瓜 Health and Greencroft are continuing to make sure efforts are ongoing in their collaborations for the strength of the broader 91精品黑料吃瓜 community.
鈥淥ur opportunity lies within our community partnerships. We work well together, and we see the needs that people have. We鈥檙e also so lucky to have 91精品黑料吃瓜 as part of our community to provide education to people right here. And then, they are able to walk right across the street and make it to a healthcare institution, where they can have an immediate positive impact.鈥�Jewel Yoder, 91精品黑料吃瓜 Professor of Nursing and the Chair of the Department of Nursing and Public Health
Watch the full ribbon-cutting here:
Photo Album: See more of the Center for Nursing and Public Health
