Department of Nursing

Simulation laboratories, or sim labs, provide nursing students the opportunity to develop healthcare competencies in a realistic, safe environment. In Fall 2024, Westminster’s BSN students will have the opportunity to hone their skills in a brand-new, high-fidelity sim lab, which will allow them to refine their skills and abilities as they work through medical scenarios with animated manikins that can be programmed to present different symptomology and responses.

Westminster’s sim lab will be equipped with five manikins, a model of the human body that is used for teaching, and standard medical equipment, such as beds and crash carts. It will also include an observation room with recording equipment, and three-dimensional anatomy tablets. In this environment, students will be able to make and learn from mistakes through debriefing video recordings of their behavioral interactions and decision making. Also, the medical scenarios they work through will be aligned with both Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accreditation standards and the competencies for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).

This new space is yet another way Westminster’s BSN program is providing the hands-on learning experiences future nurses need to be successful.