KPU launches new nursing lab and technology updates at the Langley campus
The new upgrade provides greater opportunities to students in healthcare
Individuals who opened the new KPU nursing lab from left to right: Sharmen Lee, faculty of health dean at KPU, Megan Dykeman, Langley east MLA and parliamentary secretary for community development and non-profits, Samantha Mostoghiu, KPU student in the health care assistant program, Andrew Mercier, minister of state for workforce development and MLA for Langley, Lekeyten, Elder in residence at KPU, Alan Davis, KPU president and vice-chancellor. (Flickr/Kwantlen Polytechnic University)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University opened 115 new nursing seats to expand its faculty of health nursing program last month.
Dean of the Faculty of Health Sharmen Lee wrote in an email statement to The Runner that KPU started the nursing seats expansion for students with additional intakes in January. The addition of 115 new nursing seats at KPU represents a significant expansion of nursing programs within the faculty of health, Lee wrote.
“This expansion is creating new opportunities for students in nursing while strengthening the ability of KPU to educate the next generation of healthcare professionals in our rapidly-growing region,” Lee wrote.
“We are educating and preparing more nurses to work in a field that is in high-demand.”
The nursing lab opened at the KPU Langley campus with people from the university and Andrew Mercier, MLA for the riding. A tour was given for KPU health students and instructors afterwards.
Lee also wrote that the faculty of health at KPU is educating and preparing more nurses to work in a field that is in high-demand.
“KPU Langley’s new state-of-the-art nursing lab will support the Faculty of Health’s range of nursing programs, allowing the university to apply the latest technology to teaching and learning while meeting the needs of advanced education in health care,” she wrote.
Now offering 364 seats across four programs, the expansion will boost KPU’s capacity to educate more nurses. Seats have doubled in both the Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing program and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Advanced Entry Program.
Lee said the Graduate Nurse Internationally Educated Re-Entry Program has grown by one-third, strengthening KPU as a hub for nursing education through hands-on experiential learning opportunities in hospitals, clinics, community agencies, and care homes.
The faculty is also continuing to foster connections between students and the communities they live in. These initiatives that foster a sense of community and belonging help keep health care professionals passionate and grounded.
“For current students, the new lab can accommodate up to 40 students, allowing entire cohorts to learn together in one space,” Lee wrote.
She also said the new lab space will lead to more opportunities for students to attend open-labs supported by lab educators.
“Open-labs allow students to practice skills and apply knowledge in a supported environment outside of class times.”
For more information about the programs head to www.kpu.ca/health.
