Laura M. Harrison Hall, better known on campus as “the new nursing building,” will open its doors to students this fall. Originally, the building was scheduled to open Dec. 26, 2019. Then, the date was pushed to spring 2020 when funding and weather issues arose.

“We’ve waited for our new building for some time now so we’re definitely thrilled to see it come to fruition,” said Associate Dean of the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions Dr. Tera Kirkman. “We are eager to move in and get interacting with students in the fall. Our boxes are packed and ready.”

Weather challenges have delayed the project, but if things go as planned the building should undergo a final inspection from the state on Sept. 5.

“We’ve had several iterations of [pre inspections] over the past two months so we’re still working through some of those issues,” said Assistant Vice President for Facilities Administration and Planning Michael Gautney. “Trying to get all the exterior landscaping, the brick and concrete sidewalks done… all those have to be done before the building can be occupied.”

The new building will feature state of the art simulation labs, extra computer and office space and better collaborative study areas. Faculty will also receive an iPad and AppleTVs to record and share lectures.

“I’m most excited for our students,” Kirkman said. “We have an exceptional student population here at UNA and our hope is that students will enjoy the various study spaces located in the new facility, and thrive as instruction is enhanced by the use of the latest technological modalities.”

Kirkman graduated from UNA in 1998. Since then she’s worked in fields like medical surgery and rehabilitation, and she managed a nursing unit at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital. This is her fourteenth year teaching undergraduates.

“When I was in nursing school we didn’t have a simulation lab,” Kirkman said. “We didn’t have high fidelity mannequins. [Today] Instructors are able to provide more innovative type learning experiences to students so they can really grasp the concepts and then be more confident as they progress throughout the nursing program as well as when they’re taking care of patients at the bedside.”

A variety of classes, including some from outside the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions, will move to Laura M. Harrison Hall. Nursing and pre-nursing classes will teach face to face instruction in the new facility.

“We’ll have a bigger simulation area where we’ll conduct more realistic types of patient care experiences in our new simulation laboratory,” Kirkman said. “One of the things that Dr. [Willard] Brewer shared with us is that a couple of days ago our new sim baby arrived and, from my understanding, we’re the first to receive this new sim baby in the world.”

The new simulation labs will have medication dispensers, IV pumps, hospital beds and a crash cart.

“Nursing is very hands on and you can’t get everything you need from a textbook,” said nursing student Macy McKeever. “You have to be able to practice what you’re doing.”

McKeever’s mother Jill, a labor and delivery nurse in Bessemer, Ala., inspired her to pursue nursing although she’s more interested in oncology.

“I wanna be there for the families when they ring the bell and they get through the treatment,” McKeever said. “But also I want to be there with families and help them when their hearts are broken.”

When she’s not studying for nursing school, McKeever also serves as the Co-Captain of the LaGrange Society, the university’s official students ambassadors and tour guides.

“Nursing is a major part of UNA,” McKeever said. “It’s one of our top majors, and now we have a building that matches that. It’s a very beautiful building. For potential nursing majors, we can show them ‘this is exactly where you’re going to go.’”

The program has approximately 400 pre-nursing students, 327 undergraduate students and 223 graduate students. In the past few years, the program has added a family nurse practitioner track, a post-master’s certificate program and a non nursing degree that falls under bachelors of applied health sciences.

“Laura M. Harrison Hall is a reflection of the success and growth of UNA,” Kirkman said. “We’ve been growing by leaps and bounds these last few years.”

Challenges also come with growth. Nursing students test online through Canvas, but finding time and space to accommodate all of them tricky.

“The new computer lab space will minimize this challenge and there will be additional space,” Kirkman said. “Other upgrades include office space.”

Currently, online nursing faculty share an office suit. In the new building, they’ll have individual offices and more room to grow.

“The nursing building will serve as a marker of excellence for years to come,” Kirkman said. “We owe a great debt of gratitude to our donors, it wouldn’t be possible without them, the UNA administration and Dean Peirce for her commitment to the university’s mission and their vision for the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions.”

When the building opens, students can expect in class instruction from their professors.

“We just hope that students look forward to adding their experiences and accomplishments while in Laura M. Harrison hall to the list of fond, beautiful memories they’ve had here at UNA,” Kirkman said.