Feb. 14, 2025
South College Nashville conducted an emergency medical simulation drill that began with dental patients and moved through the healthcare disciplines to give students experience across the continuum of care.
“We create training opportunities for our students to simulate what could occur in a healthcare setting, so that they are prepared to react in a real emergency when time is of the essence,” said Nick South, campus president for South College Nashville. “By involving our healthcare programs, including nursing, radiography, ultrasound, medical assisting, physician assistant and occupational therapy assistant, students gain understanding of how a patient is treated and the interconnection of healthcare protocols.”
The simulation started at the Nashville Campus Public Dental Clinic. For the purpose of the exercise, the patient suffered a stroke, and students followed protocols by “calling” 911 and then establishing a triage area and emergency room staffed by nursing and physician assistant students.
Radiography students took X-rays, which determined that a patient had aspirated a foreign object and was now in atrial fibrillation causing extremely fast and irregular heartbeats. Treatment plans were quickly adjusted, and students also planned the follow-up care, including medical assisting students drawing laboratory samples, monitoring vitals and obtaining medical history.
Based on the findings, the patient underwent an ultrasound to rule out a blood clot. The patient also was referred for an assessment by an occupational therapist assistant to fully recover from the stroke.
“The series of medical events allowed our students to react in a simulated emergency situation and be prepared if an actual emergency ever occurred in a medical setting,” South said. “The students also learned the full spectrum of care needed to thoroughly treat a patient and how medical care overlaps across specialty fields.”
South College Nashville opened in 2017. The campus is located at 616 Marriott Drive, near Interstate 40, and features classrooms, laboratories and other conveniences for students and faculty, including a Barnes & Noble bookstore, and large student centers. The institution offers a variety of programs and concentrations in the areas of dental, business, healthcare, education, legal studies, technology and more.
The Nashville campus also includes a Public Dental Clinic offering various routine and specialized dental services performed by students under the supervision of licensed DDS professionals. Services to adult and children community members are offered at a reduced rate, and services to veterans are free. For more information about the Public Dental Clinic, call 629-802-3221.
For more information about South College Nashville, visit south.edu/location/nashville.
About South College
South College serves more than 14,000 students and is proud of its more than 17,000 graduates. The institution offers academic programs at multiple levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degree programs via campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Dallas, Texas; Marietta, Georgia; and Orlando, Florida, as well as Online and CBE. South College focuses on ensuring high standards and quality educational offerings, maintaining multiple authorizations and accreditations.
South College’s programs span diverse fields such as business, criminal justice, dental hygiene/assisting, diagnostic medical sonography, nursing, occupational therapy, paralegal studies, physical therapy, radiography, respiratory therapy, physician assistant studies, pharmacy and surgical technology. The institution is dedicated to preparing students with the skills and knowledge needed for the professional opportunities ahead of them. For more information, visit south.edu.
