Calhoun to Host Fourth Annual
"Let's Pretend Hospital"
for Area First Graders 

The Nursing Department at Calhoun Community College, in partnership with Decatur General Hospital, will host the fourth annual "Let's Pretend Hospital", a mock hospital for area first graders, on March 16-19, 2004,  beginning at 8:00 a.m. each day in the Shelton Health Building on Calhoun's Decatur campus.

According to Jan Peek, chairperson of the Nursing Department, "Let's Pretend Hospital" is a project to provide first graders with 'friendly' information about what actually happens when someone is admitted to the hospital, has surgery, etc.  "All the information presented in this mock hospital setting is done so on a non-threatening, first grade level," said Ms. Peek.

Over 1300 first graders representing 22 schools from Decatur City, Morgan County, and several local private schools will participate in this activity, touring the various areas of the mock hospital.  The hospital will be set up throughout the Shelton Health Building and will include an admissions office, ER, hospital patient room, operating room, x-ray, and discharge area.  The "hospital" is being assembled by Calhoun Nursing students and Nursing faculty, who have spent hours planning and preparing for the event.

"This project is a great opportunity for Calhoun's Nursing Department to partner with one of our largest nursing employers, Decatur General," commented Ms. Peek.  Over 200 associate degree nursing students at the college are participating in the project.  "The program also provides an opportunity for our associate degree nursing students to participate in health teaching and be actively involved in a community pediatric experience," Ms. Peek added. 

For more information on the Calhoun "Let's Pretend Hospital," contact the Calhoun Nursing Department at 256/306-2804 or the Calhoun Public Relations Office at 306-2560.  See photos from the 2003 "Let's Pretend Hospital."