BETTENDORF, Iowa — Medical students at Scott Community College are getting some hands-on learning in a new space.
On Oct. 12, EICC hosted a ribbon cutting for the Scott Health Sciences Center, which brings together new classrooms and simulations labs for nursing, dental, surgical tech, medical assisting and CNA students.
Nursing student Lindsay Minch, who has over 14 years of medical experience, is already learning in the new location. When she isn't at her job as a surgical tech with Genesis Health, she's back in the classroom with a new purpose.
"My son Ryder had a kidney transplant when he was three," Minch said. "He's nine now and I want to be able to do more in the healthcare field and help more."
Minch said the new setup is a familiar environment to learn in. "NG tubes, IVs, those I can't do and so now, to be able to do that myself will be really nice," she said.
As part of the grand opening, the nursing students did a life-like simulation with dummies, assisting a mother in giving birth. Student Grace Thalacker helped pick up the 'baby' as it was delivered. "My parents are both in medicine, so I grew up going to the hospital on the weekends," she explained. "I just want to continue into doing medicine the same way my parents did — I have such an appreciation for it."
For all the learning, you need a good mentor like Eva Aguilar, who has over 35 years of medical experience. "I got started in the healthcare field when I was a medic in the Air Force," she said.
Aguilar said the new tools and new space will be helpful for simulating new situations and giving students a more spacious area to learn. "Here is a safe area where they learn from mistakes, they correct it, we talk through it with them — it's just a fantastic learning environment," she said.
It's a place where students like Minch can follow their heart. "They say the nursing program's hard. It's one of the hardest programs you'll go through. But I feel like if you want it bad enough, you'll get through it."
EICC is also improving two other locations:
Muscatine Career Advancement Center
Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023
Event 4 - 6 p.m., remarks at 4:30 p.m.
152 Colorado Street, Muscatine, Iowa
Highlights: Built with dedicated space for programs in Automotive Technology, HVAC, Criminal Justice, as well as nursing and allied health professions.
DeWitt Career Advancement Center
Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023
Event 4 - 7 p.m., remarks at 4:30 p.m.
817 E. Industrial Street, DeWitt, Iowa
Highlights: One wing is dedicated to educating future CNC machinists, construction workers, farmers, and Ag experts. Healthcare and business programs are also housed here.