By Edna Horton/managing editor
Grant funding for Tarrant County College’s nursing program will provide new state-of-the art equipment and two new courses.
Bonnie Higgins, TCC nursing director, said the grant totaling almost $300,000 will be used to purchase equipment that will help nursing students with real-world applications.
“Using the equipment for newly created academics courses will help with academia and practice,” she said.
She said the equipment includes two SimMan 3G adult manikins, which will simulate health care conditions in adult patients.
Higgins said two intravenous pumps will allow students to become comfortable with using IV equipment before they have to use it on a patient. The department will also purchase an electronic medication system, two ventilators and a stretcher to wheel around the SimMan.
Higgins said the equipment will allow students to review procedures they are not comfortable with before going to the hospital.
“Nursing is very excited to have an opportunity to make nursing real, prior to the hospital experience,” she said.
Higgins said the courses will have variable instructional content designed to enhance learning outcomes related to complex and emerging patient care issues.
She said they would increase the knowledge of current topics and events in the nursing profession and develop skills and proficiency with decision-making and problem-solving under urgent and complex conditions.
“We are calling them special topics courses, so they can be flexible courses and can meet the ongoing needs of the community,” she said.
Higgins said the courses and equipment were recommended by TCC’s health care partners. The courses will be offered in spring 2011 and will be required for the district’s nursing program.
