Saint Anselm College Opens New Nursing Program Building

Saint Anselm College held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Sept. 5, for the opening of its new Grappone Hall, home of the Jean School of Nursing and Health Sciences.

According to a News 9 report, the 45,000 square-foot facility, which cost $40 million to construct and took nearly two years to build, is the largest project-based campaign in Saint Anselm's 135-year history.

According to News 9, community and public health, nursing, and the college's health sciences programs will all be housed in Grappone. The school also announced its first graduate programs, unveiling a Master of Science in nursing program in leadership and innovation.

Within the new facility, students can explore laboratories with simulation centers, an auditorium that can hold 200 people, and collaborative learning areas. Learning environments focus on labor and delivery, pediatrics, intensive care, and home and mental health. Experiential learning can occur in an entirely simulated nursing unit and a simulated bedroom for home care.

On a tour of the new facility, News 9 found that the simulated hospital rooms feature robots (both child and adult sizes) powered by artificial intelligence that can create scenarios health care professionals might encounter in the real world. These robots can verbally respond and grip and move their arms following the commands of instructors. Private viewing rooms in each space allow faculty to observe student interactions with the robots.

Diane Uzarski, dean of Saint Anselm Health and Sciences, told News 9 she believes the new facility's amenities will prepare students to serve as nurses and public health professionals.

"Training in classrooms mixed with simulation and then partnering with hospitals to have a great clinical experience while you're in nursing school is the way that we need to bring new nurses into the workforce," said Martha Dodge, chief nursing executive for Elliot Hospital.