By: Lily Mutai
Southern Adventist University’s School of Nursing has officially relocated its simulation lab to the newly renovated Miller Hall.
Nursing is the largest major at Southern. Due to high demand, the program recently increased its acceptance rate from 72 to 84 students per semester. To accommodate this growth, the School of Nursing expanded its simulation space by moving to Miller Hall.
“We only had three designated simulation rooms/areas in AdventHealth Hall and only two of the rooms could be run at the same time due to our AV license,” said Cindy Johnson, professor of nursing and simulation coordinator. “We now have seven patient care rooms and a room for community health, where students can experience a ‘home visit.’ All of the rooms can be run at the same time.”
According to Johnson, the additional space will allow students to use the lab more than once a semester, which was previously the limit. During these sessions, students take on the role of registered nurses. They practice making clinical judgments, prioritizing patient care and responding to critical situations.
“This is the beauty of simulation,” Johnson said. “This is a safe place for students to learn.”
The new simulation center includes several upgraded technologies, most notably a new audiovisual (AV) system that records students as they complete simulations. Students can then review their footage, annotate feedback and submit self-evaluations to their professors. In addition to the AV system, the new building has patient rooms set up to mimic a real hospital, with IV pumps and other equipment.
Johnson added that a newly installed air compressor enhances realism even further.
“In the past, we asked students to pretend there was oxygen going to their patients,” she said. “Now, when they apply a nasal cannula or face mask, compressed air comes from the wall, making it very realistic for them.”
Alexis Rice, a sophomore nursing major who uses the skills lab every week, said simulation helps students learn from their mistakes before working with real patients.
“By using simulation, there is room for errors and correction of mistakes,” Rice said. “So, when you actually go to the hospital, you’re able to perform the skills you learn with confidence and without error.”
LaShawn Horton, director of the associate and bachelor of science in nursing programs, emphasized that simulation not only improves technical ability but also encourages critical thinking and problem-solving.
“Simulation offers practical ways to apply theory in context,” Horton said. “It also provides a safe space for students to fail. We’d much rather students have a failure in simulation than in the real situation.”
University President Ken Shaw also praised the center during its grand opening. He noted both the significance of the renovation and the generosity of donors who made it possible.
“Having state-of-the-art simulators gives our nursing students a chance to gain clinical experience right here on campus,” Shaw said. “It’s an incredible resource that helps prepare them to serve patients with skill and compassion.”
With the new simulation lab in place, the nursing department leadership believes that Southern’s nursing students will have more opportunities than ever to gain hands-on experience before entering clinical practice.
