PATHWAY CONNECTION

To ensure high-quality delivery of newly integrated experiential learning components, Salem Community College facilitated collaborative professional development for faculty in the health sciences and nursing departments. These sessions aimed to build faculty capacity in both the technical use of patient care equipment and the incorporation of authentic healthcare experiences into classroom instruction.

Collaborative learning sessions allowed nursing and health science faculty to align their instructional goals and share perspectives on how early foundational courses can prepare students for more advanced patient care coursework. Training included the use of specialized equipment such as auscultation manikins, vitals carts, and ECG monitors.

Faculty reported the training sessions were valuable not only for technical skill-building but also for fostering a deeper understanding of the healthcare pathway as a whole. The initiative encouraged continued interdepartmental collaboration, and faculty expressed strong interest in ongoing training sessions to remain current with healthcare instructional best practices.

This professional development component ensures that instructional practices remain aligned with industry standards and student needs, strengthening the healthcare education pipeline from foundational courses to advanced credentials.