Renee Thelen inserted the suction tube into the neck of José’s lifeless body in front of a crowd of people Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s almost like an unconscious patient,” the nursing junior said about the mannequin she was demonstrating on in the new Janice Thompson Granger Nursing Learning Center. “It’s a better way to learn because we’re actually inserting it instead of just going through the motions.”
The demonstration was part of the dedication of the nursing center Wednesday.
The center was created with a gift from MSU alumni Alton and Janice Granger, owners of the Lansing-based Granger Construction Company.
Janice Granger received her degree from the College of Nursing in 1980 and came back to serve on the Alumni Association Board as a founding member of the Board of Visitors.
Janice Granger said she is a friend of nursing as well as MSU. About 300 students use the center.
“With the shortage of nursing it’s imperative to have hands on experience,” she said. “This will make it easier for the students and the future of learning.”
The $600,000 learning complex, which opened in August, offers nursing students practice labs, a testing area, a media lab, a video taping facility and a student lounge
College of Nursing Dean Marilyn Rothert said students will be able to gain more real life experience at the center, which is located on the first floor of the Life Sciences Building.
“This center is a place where students can really practice the skills they learn in the classroom,” she said.
The center will have a simulation lab, with high-tech mannequins such as José and other equipment for the students to work with.
“Students will really be able to use the equipment and get to know it before they go out and give patient care,” Rothert said.
Nursing junior Teberah Alexander said the state-of-the-art technology at the new center is a huge improvement from the previous location in Fee Hall. She said the old location was hot, congested and crowded.
“You learn nursing by seeing and doing,” she said. “You can only read so much about inserting a catheter. If you’re not doing it, what do you know?”
Lab coordinator Mary Kay Smith said the center is beneficial to students and the future of nursing.
“We still have potential for growth as technology improves,” she said. “In the professional world, health care workers will recognize when a nurse is well-prepared. We’re proud when we have great graduates coming from this community.”
Nursing senior Elena Zachary said she was sad to think about her last 11 days working at the center.
“I was so jealous when I found out they were building it for my senior year,” she said. “Everything here has been so much more realistic.”
