BRTC held a dedication ceremony for the new Health/Science Complex on Monday, November 2. The ceremony celebrated the completion of the 2-story, $11 million, 42,000 sq. ft. facility which houses 4 science labs, 2 math/science lecture halls, 5 nursing classrooms, a multipurpose CVN/computer lab, a state-of-the-art nursing lab. Students are provided with private study carrels, a spacious lounge furnished with modern seating which has built-in electronic plugins and computer access, and a break room complete with two refrigerators, a sink, and a microwave. Math, science, phlebotomy, and nursing classes will all be held in the new building.
The science facilities include several prep areas for specific activities instead of one general purpose prep area found in most science buildings. It also feature an alterative lab setting where gas and water access is housed in tables along the periphery of the lab classroom instead of inside the working stations in the middle of the classroom. This arrangement lends flexibility because it allows science faculty to teach both lab and lecture courses in the same room. This arrangement is also very cost effective in that regular lecture-style classes such as those in math, English, and history can utilize the classroom.
The nursing section of the building includes a 16-bed simulation lab which is also fully functional as a labor and delivery area as well as a recovery and postpartum area, a very special feature in an educational institution since labor and delivery are hit-or-miss at clinical sites. Nursing students have access to a ceiling-mount patient lift, a rarity not only in hospitals and nursing homes but especially in educational facilities. In the event of a catastrophic event, the simulation lab can become a small functioning hospital.
BRTC’s will be one of the few educational facilities with two debriefing rooms where students can view recordings of their participation in simulations to evaluate their reactions and progress during training sessions. The facility includes two control booths for BRTC’s hi-fidelity manikins as well as a ventilated manikin storage unit which controls eye and skin irritating fumes emitted by the manikins. Other features of the nursing wing include an ambulance bay for real ER environment simulation, a medication prep area, and an up-to-date Phlebotomy lab.
The CVN/computer lab houses 75 laptops and may be used for testing, compressed video including all ARNEC classes, and a functioning computer lab. In the future, the area may be utilized for continuing educational opportunities with local agencies.