The sun was coming up Tuesday morning, December 7,
as the Sophomore I Nursing students made their way through the front doors of
the “old” Laguna Honda Hospital. A statue of Florence Nightingale graces over one
of the oldest Skilled Nursing facility in the U.S. Built in 1926, the hospital, as part of the
Department of Public Health safety net, has served as home to approximately
1040 residents, mostly frail elderly, AIDS and hospice patients, and those with
complex medical and psychiatric disorders. The older wards, designed by Ms.
Nightingale herself, served as the setting for the (new curriculum) Sophomore I’s first
clinical experience with patients this semester.
On this day, they were to become part of the “volunteer
team” of movers to the new modern buildings. The 18 participating students were
from Dr. Norma Anderson and Professor Anna Grajeda’s clinical groups and were
able to apply some of their newly acquired clinical skills. Nursing students,
such as Rachel Hamilton, helped with the transferring of their medical charts
to their new destination. Many others served as guides to lead the transporting
staff to elevators and provided reassurance to the patients.
USF students were proud to be a part of the moving
process and to be one of the last clinical groups to learn at the old hospital.
“It was exhilarating to participate in this historic event,” said student
Malena Spar.
The new Laguna Honda Hospital is now the most advanced
Skilled Nursing Facility in the U.S. for patients and for training nurses.
Incoming Sophomore I students in the spring semester of 2011 can look forward to
a dynamic learning experience in the new Laguna Honda Hospital (www.lagunahonda.org).
