Written by Troy Chamber Intern, Jake Czarnik
If there were only a few words to describe the Troy Chamberlain College of Nursing, it would be innovative, state-of-the-art, scholastic, and multifaceted. From their interactive mannequins, state-of-the-art technology, and hybrid nursing programs, they are pushing the envelope of what it means to be a modern college of nursing.
But this isn’t something new for Chamberlain, they have a legacy of care that spans 125 years, proving their expertise in preparing extraordinary healthcare professionals. They offer nursing and health profession degrees and certificates to their students, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Public Health, and more graduate and undergraduate programs.
To get a deeper glimpse into Chamberlain, Troy Chamber President, Tara Tomcsik-Husak, and Mayor Ethan Baker toured the campus, led by the college’s President, Doctor Phyllis Eaton. Dr. Eaton worked as a mental healthcare provider, serving different populations and communities for over thirty years. She assumed her position as President three years ago. At that time, Chamberlain had 300 students. Today, the college has more than doubled its number of students to 620 and is continuously innovating its campus for the influx of students.
Chamberlain has stayed at the forefront of technology by creating an ingenious simulation lab that is a true replication of a hospital room. Shannon Shefferly, Chamberlain’s Learning Specialist, gave us the grand tour. In each of these rooms, the students could encounter real hospital scenarios with their instructors providing feedback just behind the glass, giving each student independence while having the supervision needed to provide support.
Something unique about Chamberlain’s simulation lab is the emersion. There is a one-way glass pane that separates students from their instructors and peers, so they genuinely alone with their patients. Dr. Eaton describes, “We offer one-on-one experience and encourage our students that this is a safe environment.”
The simulations are guided by professional instructors like Shannon and are performed on interactive and life-like mannequins. The mannequins are diverse, some representing children and others representing adults, providing students with opportunities to learn how to care for individuals of all ages.
“We control the mannequin’s vital signs, they have heartbeat sounds, lung sounds, we can set them up for pneumonia. We can program everything and anything we want to instruct the student,” stated Shannon
“I love the passion that’s just oozing out of you!” Tara said to Shannon, “and it’s also refreshing to see a lot of diversity amongst the mannequins to replicate the community we serve.”
Dr. Eaton then walked us through the array of classroom spaces and introduced us to the Student Center for Academic Success, which is a multi-use space for tutoring, studying, computer access, printing, and more. On top of these student services, Shannon also has an open-door policy with her students. They can visit any time they’d like to ask questions, receive advice, or snag some candy, which is conveniently taped onto Shannon’s office door for students.
“This is truly so different from other nursing schools,” Tara said, continuing, “I feel like you guys take away a lot of that stress by being such an open an inviting place for students to come and learn.”
Mayor Baker stressed the importance of supporting our healthcare heroes then asked, “I know flexibility can be difficult for students, with many working full time jobs as they pursue their nursing degree. Do you offer any online or hybrid courses for your students?”
“We offer a hybrid program,” said Dr. Eaton, emphasizing this as another opportunity for students and what sets Chamberlain apart from other nursing colleges. “Most of our nursing classes are done synchronously and in real-time, giving students the ability to talk and discuss with peers and instructors virtually. We also offer asynchronous classes, where students can work at their own pace.”
While the online capability is convenient for students, Dr. Eaton also emphasized the importance of being in-person for their skills lab, simulations, and attending clinical rounds. This is just one of the many ways to achieve your degree, your way.
You can follow the Chamberlain College of Nursing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. To explore Chamberlain, visit their website at: https://www.chamberlain.edu/nursing-school/michigan/troy
To get your business featured in “Focus Troy” blog post on our website, contact Tara at: tara@troychamber.com