SAN ANTONIO — A significant move is happening in the south side. Alamo Colleges District Palo Alto College reports it is the first public institution to offer a nursing program on the south side of San Antonio. It will be an associate degree program in nursing.
Last week, the Texas Board of Nursing gave the program the green light.
Palo Alto Executive Director of Nursing Donna Wallis said this will be a game changer for the industry and the area.
"We are going to change the landscape of health care," she said. "We have the opportunity to train nurses, future care givers to take care of their families and friends."
Palo Alto College President Dr. Robert Garza said he is beyond excited.
"This has not only been a dream of mine, our college our community for quite some time," he said. "In order for us to be a part of the solution, we have to find a way to provide nurses for our hospitals and our clinics. The way we are going to do that is through education and our nursing program."
Wallis said the impact will be felt on different levels.
"We will be able to reduce poverty, increase education and social mobility," she said.
Future students will be able to learn inside a skills lab. It has different type of mannequins and will work through different scenarios.
"Someone who has really low blood pressure, someone who has pneumonia or influenza," she said. "The possibilities are endless. We are here to create that next generation of empowerment."
The first batch of 30 students are expected to begin in the Fall. Dr. Garza also said another goal is a partnership with feeder high schools in the south.