Nursing students review dosing and administering medications via injection in their Nursing Foundations Lab.

Fitchburg State University will launch a community of research fellows mentored by faculty this fall with a newly-announced grant from the Moderna Charitable Foundation.

The university’s Biology and Chemistry Department will lead the effort, targeting traditionally underserved populations to engage students in mentorship and high-impact practices as an undergraduate research community. Students will also be paid stipends for their time in the program.

The Biology, Chemistry, and Earth & Geographic Sciences departments held their annual science symposium Tuesday afternoon at the Lisciotti pavilion in the Antonucci Science Building as part of our S.T.E.M. Week events. This is an event where the science faculty present posters on their research to get students interested and involved in the sciences.

Students in Biology and Chemistry Professor Dr. Erin Rehrig's plant biology lab examine plant evolution and diversity as well as the cellular and biochemical characteristics of plants. The course focuses on the physiology, ecology, and molecular biology of plants including leaf & root physiology, reproduction, and stress responses. Consideration is given to the importance of plants in environmental studies, the biotech industry, and human culture. In laboratory experiments, students use plants to investigate molecular, physiological, and ecological questions.

Nursing Professor Jennifer Dupuis teaches students about safely transferring patients from bed to stretcher, bed to chair using equipment such as slide boards and patient lift systems in her Nursing Foundations Lab.

Students in Professor Nancy Green's  Nursing Health Assessment Lab get a foundation for nursing assessment of the adult client. They develop interviewing techniques, health history taking, physical assessment and critical thinking skills. This clinical component allows students to apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations.

Professor Jennifer Dupuis helps students with nursing knowledge and theory in her Nursing Foundations Lab - including a "field trip" to the Nursing Office to take vitals. In this course, emphasis is placed on professionalism, caring, communication, cultural considerations, spirituality, sexuality and health promoting activities. 

Students in Exercise and Sports Science Professor Lindsay Parisi Exercise Physiology I Lab took resting and exercise blood pressures in the North St. Exercise & Sports Science Lab. In this course, human systemic response and adaptation to exercise and exercise training are studied in-depth. Topics included are epidemiology and physiology in health and disease, homeostasis and exercise metabolism, bioenergetics, nutrition, exercise and performance, exercise prescriptions for health, training, exercise and the environment and factors limiting performance. Laboratory experiences provide practical assessment skills as well as application of the scientific method to problems and issues in this field. 

Two Nursing students were immersed in a home healthcare simulation as Visiting Nurses for patient Bob, his wife Claire (played by Nursing faculty member) and "dog" Chloe, all in Bob's "apartment." Our Nursing Simulation Laboratory assists nursing students in learning critical thinking and clinical judgment skills in preparation for their healthcare careers. The “manikins” act as lifelike patient simulators, wherein instructors provide real-time feedback via a control center, giving students as close to real-life simulation as possible. Fellow students watch as their classmates work through the simulation. All students and faculty debrief after the scenario.

Dr. Jennifer Hanselman, Ph.D., Dean of Business and Technology & Dean of Health and Natural Sciences held the first All Schools meeting of the Fall semester yesterday afternoon in the Hammond Main Hall. Early on the agenda was the introduction of the newest Student Ambassadors for the schools, and a celebratory "champagne" toast to acknowledge all of the grant work, and grants awarded since last year.