East Central College nursing students became nursing teachers in February. Students from the Rolla Technical Center’s Health Science Academy stopped by campus to get a firsthand look at healthcare education at the collegiate level.

“We have state-of-the-art nursing and EMS simulation labs,” said Nancy Mitchell, nursing program coordinator at East Central College. “The lab is where the bulk of learning, skill attainment and proficiency occurs prior to the students going into a patient care setting.”

The Health Science Academy offers Rolla high school students a “jump-start” into a future career in the healthcare industry.  “It offers students an integrated academic and health-related curriculum taught through the Rolla School District,” said Mitchell. “After, they become a certified nursing assistant.”

While it’s a great starting point for the students after high school, East Central College student nurses used the interactive campus visit give the Rolla students a chance to explore more health careers.

“We show students what it’s really like to be a nurse or paramedic,” said Nursing and Allied Health Division Chair Robyn Walter. “The Health Science Academy students were extremely interested in the simulations involving babies – from birthing to newborn safety to shaken baby syndrome.”

East Central College is home to five accredited health care programs – fire technology, nursing, occupational therapy assistant, paramedic technology and radiologic technology. Additionally, ECC offers a medical assistant program and a degree in Health Information Management.