CNR Opens New Simulation Clinic At Nursing School

From The College of New Rochelle: Nursing students at The College of New Rochelle School of Nursing & Healthcare Professions got the chance to show off their clinical practice skills on Tuesday, December 4 during a demonstration of the College’s newest high-tech simulated hospital center.

Like a real hospital, CNR’s new $100,000 facility has an intensive care unit, EKG machines, intravenous pumps, and carts to simulate dispensing medication and entering electronic medical records. But the highlight of the demonstration were two high-fidelity mannequins that can mirror a wide range of medical conditions and provide lifelike patients on which students can hone their skills.

College of New Rochelle President Dr. William Latimer, Westchester County Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler and New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson watched the demonstration during a tour of the facility on the first floor of the College’s Ursula Administration Center. With lifelike respiration, pulse and blood pressure, the mannequins can simulate conditions such as asthma, stroke, congestive heart failure, diabetes and more, allowing students to diagnose and treat these mock patients in a safe learning environment.

During the demonstration, nursing students successfully treated an asthma attack. They administered intravenous medications and oxygen, monitored vital signs and accessed the patients’ medical information using a computerized electronic records system identical to the ones used in hospitals.

“We are very excited to have this hospital-like clinical simulation center that will be used by our senior nursing students, said Dr. Debra Simons, Dean, School of Nursing & Healthcare Professions. “The use of clinical simulation is critical for training competent and safe practitioners, as it helps to bridge important connections between academic knowledge and clinical reasoning. Clinical simulation provides an opportunity to apply theory while gaining experience in skills or procedures that would otherwise be difficult without putting patients at risk, such as managing emergencies and resuscitation. As hospitals begin to reduce acute care beds and shift care to alternative care settings, this hospital-like simulation center will ensure that our students will receive acute care experiences in the safety of the clinical simulation setting.”

Dr. William Latimer said the simulated hospital was an extremely valuable tool for CNR’s signature nursing programs. “The College’s School of Nursing & Healthcare Professions enjoys a stellar reputation in nursing education and deservedly so. This new simulation lab will provide our nursing students with even greater levels of clinical practice to prepare them for jobs in the community, in hospitals, and a broad base of community-based agencies.

New Rochelle Mayor Bramson and Dr. Amler were very impressed with the level of education received by nursing students at CNR.

“Well, from a municipal perspective, we recognize that eds and meds are the future of our economy,” said Mayor Bramson. “And this is a program which combines both. The College of New Rochelle, which is a foundational educational institution for our community, is preparing its students for exciting career opportunities in the healthcare field. So it's a win win.”

Dr. Amler said, “I think that the ability to have simulation in medical education, whether it's for nurses or physicians, is wonderful for the student because it allows them an opportunity to gain some experience and get confidence in a less stressful environment. So, the first time you have an issue is not with a live patient. And I think that's a really, truly valuable experience.”

This new simulation lab is an expansion of clinical simulation areas currently used by nursing students at CNR. The School’s Learning Resource Center for Nursing, a multipurpose facility, located in Angela Hall, includes four laboratories, and includes a full obstetrical suite with a mannequin that can simulate childbirth, a pediatric simulation suite and a community “home like” suite. Two of the laboratories are used for simulation experiences, one for health assessment, and one for skill practice with static mannequins.

The School of Nursing & Healthcare Professions offers undergraduate programs in nursing, including a traditional undergraduate program Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.); a second degree accelerated B.S.N. program for those holding degrees in other fields, which students can complete in five semesters; a B.S.N. program for R.N.s, as well as a graduate program with multiple tracks and post-master’s certificate programs.

Image via New Rochelle College