UA’s Capstone College of Nursing Has A New Home

 Editor’s Note: UA’s Capstone College of Nursing will host a tour for members of the media at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 19. Faculty, staff and students will be available for interviews. 

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Nursing education at The University of Alabama will become a more interactive experience when the new Capstone College of Nursing building opens for classes this week.    

The 64,000 square foot facility is UA’s first building specifically designed for nursing instruction and is a leader in integration of health care simulation.    

Located at the northwest corner of McFarland Boulevard, in the 600 block of University Boulevard across from DCH Regional Medical Center, the Neo-classical building serves as a gateway to the UA campus.    

“Today’s nursing students are experiential learners,” said Dr. Sara Barger, dean of UA’s Capstone College of Nursing. “They require hands-on learning in order to provide the highest level of care to their patients. This building goes a long way in helping the College meet those needs.”    

The $16.9 million Capstone College of Nursing houses a 148-seat auditorium, 3 large classrooms, a computer lab, a 34-bed clinical practice lab, 6 METI simulation labs, 2 quiet study rooms, a student lounge area and administrative offices for faculty and staff.    

The building, which will be dedicated at a 10 a.m. ceremony Sept. 10, has wireless access and network drop stations for student access, as well as for broadcasting real-time simulated medical emergencies to any classroom.    

The Simulation Center for Clinical Excellence, located on the second floor of the new facility, has six rooms, each containing a METI or Gaumard simulator for practice scenarios.    

The simulators are life-like mannequins that can be programmed for various conditions such as stroke or heart attack and exhibit symptoms similar to live patients, enabling nursing students to gain critical experience before the stakes are too high.    

Instructors in a control room will create patient conditions ranging from a mother in labor to a 60-year-old patient with symptoms of heart failure. The 34-bed clinical practice lab is equipped to help students gain hands-on experience caring for patients using electronic medical records.    

“Our goal is to produce graduates who can provide quality, safe care and who feel comfortable in a technology-driven environment,” said Dr. Marsha Adams, professor of nursing and assistant dean of the undergraduate program. “We want to reduce the orientation time for our graduates when they start with a health care agency.”    

The new building also helps The University of Alabama address the nationwide shortage of nurses. The additional 43,000 square feet allows the Capstone College of Nursing to accommodate its unprecedented growth.    

Since 2000, the College’s undergraduate enrollment has more than tripled, and graduate enrollment grew from seven students to more than 300 in the same time period.    

Those expected to participate in the September dedication ceremony are UA President Robert E. Witt; Barger, and special guests representing nursing faculty, staff, students and alumni.    

“A new Capstone College of Nursing building serves as a visible example of The University of Alabama’s commitment to providing our students with a state-of-the-art learning environment,” said Witt.    

The architectural firm for the project was TurnerBatson. Doster Construction was the contractor.    

The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is experiencing growth in enrollment and academic quality. This growth, which is positively impacting the state’s economy, is in keeping with UA’s vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state’s flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.