Art students work to brighten new campus nursing sim center

The new Radford Clinical Simulation Center (CSC) replicates the modern healthcare environment and seven art students have surveyed Radford’s Permanent Collection to develop a display to brighten its entry.

The students are from Art Department Chair Roann Barris’ museum science class about crafting art exhibitions, displays and shows.

In the CSC, located on the third floor of Cook Hall, nursing students get immersive practical experience treating high-fidelity simulators or standardized patients and then debrief with nursing faculty. Barris’ art students and aspiring curators  received valuable practical experience browsing through Radford’s extensive collection, reading plans, preparing presentation material and discussing how art can influence healing and learning.

“I liked the chance to take the steps for planning a real exhibition,” said Hannah O’Dell, a junior art history major from Pulaski. “We brainstormed a theme, surveyed the collection, and measured and studied the space . . . the kind of activities I hope to do as a curator in the real world.”

For the class, who are required to design a virtual museum exhibition, the project will be a tangible reflection of their early efforts to respond to the many aspects and challenges of a curator operating a museum. 

“Civic engagement and collaboration are important emphases,” said Barris. “The class had to work with certain limitations and fit a unique setting.” 

The students sorted through more than 200 pieces in the Radford Permanent Collection. From that diverse trove of art, they selected and will soon propose a collection of 12-14 abstract pieces, including acrylic painting, yarn drawings and watercolors representative of a wide range of media and artists, including pieces done by a current student and Radford’s first-ever Fine Arts graduate.

The Radford CSC serves SON students from the Radford campus and nursing students from New River and Wytheville Community Colleges and includes two “wings”– one simulating the hospital environment with rooms devoted to obstetric, pediatric and medical/surgical care and one simulating healthcare clinic and doctors’ offices. 

“It is an exciting chance to replace the white walls with colorful visuals,” said Savannah Peaven, junior art history major from Blacksburg. “When we toured the space, we saw their passion and dedication and we can share ours this way to help and inspire them.”