The San Joaquin Delta College nursing program has nearly doubled in size, expanding from 80 enrolled students in 2022 to 150 this semester, according to school leaders.
The bump in enrollment numbers come as nursing students return to a campus with upgraded simulation labs. Students are now able to practice their clinical training on life-like patient manikins that can take in IVs, cough, have heart rates, and even talk.
Delta College Superintendent Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson said the simulation labs help equip students with the skills they’ll need to handle various scenarios in hospital settings.
“It’s extremely important so we can help our students to understand the types of interactions that they would have with patients, including if there’s a visitor in the room, if a patient is hurting in a certain way, or if they have questions,” Lawrenson said. “It’s a lot different to have somebody who’s interacting with you.”
The purchase of the patient manikins and renovations to four nursing classrooms in the Locke Building were made possible thanks to $3.8 million in federal funding secured by Congressman Josh Harder last year.