By Dave DeFusco
At the heart of the Katz School鈥檚 B.S. in Nursing鈥擜ccelerated is a transformative resource reshaping how future healthcare professionals are educated: the Nursing Simulation and Skills Center. Located within a sprawling 30,000-square-foot facility in the heart of New York City. The Simulation Center dedicates half its footprint鈥15,000 square feet鈥攖o an immersive, technology-rich learning environment that mirrors real-world healthcare settings. It鈥檚 more than a cutting-edge facility; it鈥檚 a crucible where clinical competence, interprofessional collaboration and critical thinking are forged鈥攑reparing students not just to meet but to lead in the future of healthcare.
Equipped to replicate nearly every aspect of modern healthcare, the Nursing Simulation Center is built for hands-on learning. The facility includes:
- A 14-bed simulated hospital
- Exam rooms
- A fully equipped emergency department
- Isolation rooms
- An obstetrical delivery suite
- A medication room
- Dedicated debriefing and conference rooms
- A control room for observation for multiple simulation management
This dynamic layout allows nursing students to experience a wide range of clinical scenarios鈥攆rom routine checkups to life-threatening emergencies鈥攊n a safe, supportive and risk-free environment. The integration of these varied clinical environments gives students the opportunity to repeatedly practice their skills, make mistakes without real-world consequences and grow in both confidence and competence.
鈥淓very square foot is intentionally designed,鈥 said Dr. Peggy Tallier, senior associate dean and professor of nursing. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 unique is how it鈥檚 integrated with classroom instruction. We don鈥檛 separate theory from practice. We use a flipped classroom model鈥攕tudents hear it in lecture and then live it in simulation. That reinforcement builds real confidence.鈥
Simulation is woven into the entire academic journey, with students gradually progressing from foundational skills to complex clinical decision-making. In their first semester, students begin with the courses Pathophysiology/Pharmacology; Health Assessment; and Foundations of Nursing Practice, learning basic nursing and medication skills and how to perform system-based patient assessments鈥攐ne week focusing on cardiovascular function, another on neurological systems, and so on. As they advance, simulations become increasingly complex, reflecting students鈥 deepening knowledge in courses like Medical Surgical Nursing; Maternity Nursing; Pediatric Nursing; and Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing.
鈥淥ur high-fidelity manikins can do everything a human can do鈥攅xcept walk,鈥 said Dr. Patricia Reineke, director of clinical education and associate professor of nursing. 鈥淭hey breathe, speak, sweat, bleed. If a student makes a decision that isn鈥檛 clinically sound, we can simulate consequences like a sudden blood pressure drop. The students must respond鈥攃ritically and calmly. And they learn so much from that safe failure.鈥
A lecture on congestive heart failure, fior example, might be followed by a simulation in which a patient鈥攖he manikin鈥攂egins exhibiting shortness of breath, low oxygen saturation and elevated heart rate. The student nurses must recognize the signs; administer appropriate medications; escalate care if necessary; and communicate with interdisciplinary team members. Afterward, they gather for a faculty-led debriefing, often in a conference room designed for reflection and feedback. Sessions are recorded using high-resolution audio and video equipment, allowing students to review their performances.
鈥淒ebriefing is essential,鈥 said Dean Tallier. 鈥淪tudents see what went well and what didn鈥檛. They often learn the most by watching themselves on screen鈥攊t helps connect their actions to patient outcomes.鈥
The Nursing Simulation Center isn鈥檛 just a resource for nursing students鈥攊t鈥檚 a collaborative hub bringing together students from across the Katz School鈥檚 health sciences programs. Through interprofessional education (IPE) events, nursing students work alongside peers studying medicine, health sciences and other allied health professions. These interactions foster respect, communication and shared responsibility.
鈥淚n the real world, nurses don鈥檛 work in isolation,鈥 said Dr. Reineke. 鈥淪imulation allows them to practice those crucial conversations with physicians, respiratory therapists and social workers. They learn not just how to treat a patient, but how to do it as part of a team.鈥
Additionally, simulations expose students to a diverse range of patient demographics, preparing them to care for individuals of all ages and from different cultural backgrounds. This variety helps build empathy, emotional intelligence and cultural competence鈥攅ssential qualities in today鈥檚 healthcare environment.
Faculty aren鈥檛 just instructors鈥攖hey鈥檙e simulation leaders. All educators receive specialized training in simulation-based learning. Every clinical course incorporates two to three simulations directly tied to course content. The New York State Education Department allows up to one-third of direct patient care hours to be fulfilled through simulation. In light of competition for clinical placements in the region, the Katz School maximizes this opportunity to give students meaningful, hands-on experiences.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 just use simulation as a substitute for clinical,鈥 said Dr. Reineke. 鈥淲e use it as a complement鈥攁 bridge that prepares them to succeed when they enter a hospital or clinic.鈥
As the demands on healthcare professionals grow鈥攎ore patients, more complexity, more technologies鈥攖he need for clinicians who are both competent and compassionate has never been greater. The Katz School鈥檚 Nursing Simulation Center is answering that call, providing a comprehensive educational experience that prepares students to not just meet clinical expectations, but to exceed them.
鈥淭his space is phenomenal,鈥 said Dean Tallier. 鈥淚t鈥檚 more than just a room full of equipment鈥攊t鈥檚 a school within a school. It鈥檚 where knowledge comes to life, where students become nurses and where tomorrow鈥檚 leaders in healthcare begin their journey.鈥
