Western Nevada College is moving forward with a major renovation of its Piñon Building on the Fallon campus, a project aimed at expanding nursing education opportunities and strengthening the rural healthcare workforce in Nevada.
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According to a news release, design and permitting for the renovation are currently underway, with construction scheduled to begin in January. Once completed, the upgraded facility will feature modern clinical training spaces, advanced simulation laboratories, and dedicated rooms for studying and testing.
College officials say the improvements will significantly enhance hands-on learning opportunities for nursing students based in Fallon, reducing the need to travel to other campuses to complete coursework.
“In speaking about the expansion at our Advisory Board meetings, our clinical partners are excited about the prospect of educating more nurses in the rural community,” said WNC Nursing and Allied Health Director Dr. Audrey Auer.
At present, Western Nevada College enrolls eight Associate of Applied Science nursing students at the Fallon campus, with students required to travel to Carson City for portions of their required instruction. Following the renovation, the college expects to dramatically increase its capacity, accommodating 24 first-year and 24 second-year nursing students entirely in Fallon.
“The goal is for Fallon students to have all required classes held on the Fallon campus,” Auer said. “The expansion will provide additional lab and simulation space and also open the potential for recruiting more students from Fallon and the surrounding areas.”
College leaders say the renovation reflects a broader effort to address nursing shortages in rural Nevada by expanding access to high-quality training closer to where students live. The enhanced facilities are expected to better support clinical instruction, improve student outcomes and strengthen partnerships with healthcare providers across the region.
Once construction is complete, Western Nevada College anticipates that the expanded nursing program will play a key role in developing a larger, more locally trained nursing workforce to serve Fallon and surrounding rural communities.
Originally reported by Nevada Appeal.
