New teaching center for nurses

LAKELAND - The future of nursing has arrived in Polk County. Florida Southern College formally opened a new teaching center for nurses to get their degrees.

This education center is special for something it does not have: real human beings.

Instead, students will learn with mannequins -- but not just any dummies.

Take "Walter," for example. He bleeds when he is cut, vomits when he feels sick, and can complain with the best of them. He and his other roomies also moan.

Student nurse Rhonda George was taken back when he did.

"It was pretty cool, awesome," she said.

Walter is one of the high tech mannequins now being used at Florida Southern College's nursing program.

He was also one of the jaw-dropping focal points of the school's new nursing building, which was just dedicated on Friday.

One of Walter's fellow automated mannequins can outdo him in one area -- she can give birth.

"It's really cool to have something you can really work on, rather than just working out of a book, and reading the skills," said student nurse Heather Raulerson. "It's just a lot different."

Experts say using the mannequins is much better than what they used to do.

"In the past, they actually practiced on human beings, which is not ideal," said one of the schools deans, Dr. Elizabeth Parato.

Florida Southern is now the first place in Polk County where nursing students can get advance degrees.