New Model Changes the Way Baystate Educates Nursing Students

In the Dedicated Education Unit model, a nursing unit is dedicated to a specific nursing school, to allow nurse clinical teachers to learn and apply one specific nursing curriculum. Each student works with a specially trained staff nurse, and a nursing faculty.

In the summer of 2012, the third DEU was opened on Daly 6B in partnership with Elms College. Students will focus on surgical nursing.

The first DEU opened on Springfield 1 in 2008, in partnership with University of Massachusetts Amherst School of Nursing, for the purpose of incorporating interdisciplinary experiences into the curriculum. These students participate in seminars with third year medical students.

In 2010, the second DEU was opened on Wesson 3 for Springfield Technical College nursing students who planned to continue on and earn a bachelors degree in nursing.

Since 2008, 112 nursing students have completed clinical experiences in the DEU model. Two doctoral students are currently evaluating the learning in these units, comparing communication experiences between DEUs and units using traditional educational models.

DEUs were introduced at Baystate by Mary Brunton, Director, Clinical Practice and Spiritual Services, and Patty Samra, Director of Clinical Workforce Planning.