The Utah Valley University Nursing Department hosted an open house for its brand-new Nursing Student Learning and Simulation Center, located on the West Orem Campus. This lab provides a hospital-like setting for student nurses to train and develop their skills. Thanks to the facility, nurses can train for emergency situations in a high-pressure environment that helps them hone their abilities without any risk.
“Each year the state of Utah is short 4,000 nurses and we need to do as much as we can to increase the quantity of nurses entering the field each year,” said David McEntire, dean of the College of Health and Public Service. “In addition to that, we also want quality. That’s where this lab comes in. We have great instructors and great support from the community, but this is a safe lab where we can help our students gain confidence.”
The facility is impressive, with nearly 7,500 square feet and room for up to 21 hospital beds. There are three nursing skill labs in the center and three high-fidelity simulation rooms including a simulated mother and baby birthing suite. The use of computerized mannequins to simulate real-life scenarios provides students with effective engaged-learning opportunities that are second to none. The facility also includes a state-of-the-art control room, three debriefing rooms, and an outpatient exam room.
“We are writing the story. By coming to UVU you have joined the storytelling,” said UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez. “We are each writing a page or a chapter every time we do something. The story of UVU happens because of all of you and because we all take pride in what we do."
With the addition of this lab, the program is adding to its story which started 70 years ago. The first graduates of the Licensed Practical Nursing Program in 1950 numbered only 28. Since then, approximately 3,500 students have completed the certificate program. There are currently 120 students working toward their Associate of Science in Nursing and preparing to be certified registered nurses. The Bachelor of Science degree is offered entirely online, giving students the opportunity to work full-time in their field while still pursuing higher education.
As UVU works to deliver quality nurses from its ASN/RN and BSN programs, the use of the Nursing Student Learning and Simulation Center will be more than just helpful — it will be essential for the quality of the nurses that leave the university and work in our community. “What a noble profession,” Tuminez said.
Each year the state of Utah is short 4,000 nurses and we need to do as much as we can to increase the quantity of nurses entering the field each year.
