Sacred Heart's new simulation center offers realistic learning lab for students

The path to earning Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees has become more realistic for University of West Florida students.

On Wednesday, Ascension Sacred Heart and the university unveiled a new, state-of-the-art simulation center for students completing their BSN degrees on the hospital’s campus.

Housed in a 6,000-square-feet space at 5150 Bayou Blvd., the simulation center is equipped with two high-fidelity adult simulators, one mid-fidelity adult simulator and one low-fidelity pediatric mannikin.

UWF President Martha Saunders described the simulation center as “another strong partnership” with the hospital.

“We started leaning in about 10 years ago on what we call high-impact practices. Those are those experiences our students have that aren’t in the classroom but that set them apart at the hiring table and it sets them apart in their profession,” Saunders said.

“This is an example of an amazing high-impact practice where our students are here learning from the experts, from the people who have been in the trenches awhile, learning communication skills, learning teamwork, learning how to do their jobs even better from people who are already doing it better.”

In October 2023, Ascension Sacred Heart and UWF began a strategic initiative to allow 16 upper-level BSN students to complete the final three semesters of their clinical and classroom time on the hospital campus.

In the simulation center, students will attend class and have simulation, skills and lab for the Ascension Sacred Heart assigned courses and cohort.

“I think this is another great example between a not-for-profit health system, a thriving university and Pensacola coming together for the good of the community,” said Will Condon, Ascension Sacred Heart president and CEO.

“Coming out of COVID, everyone recognized that we had some shortfalls in nursing staffing. And what UWF has been able to do is build a great, respectable nursing program. What Sacred Heart is able to offer is high-quality healthcare and a great learning center.”

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UWF nursing student James Castagna said the simulators are very advanced and allow students to learn in a nearly realistic environment.

“There are a lot of things the simulators can do. They have full on PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) lines. They have drainage, so we can actually do IVs,” said Castagna, a Tate High School graduate.

“The mannikins’ eyes can dilate. The simulation center makes it as realistic as possible to working with an actual patient.”

Castagna graduates in December and wants to work in post critical and intensive care units.

“The ultimate goal is to be a nurse anesthetist and you need that ICU and critical care experience. I want to do that for about two years and then go back to school,” he added.

David Bellar, dean of UWF’s College of Health, said the university will continue to invest in the center.

Ascension Sacred Heart provided the space and UWF invested $500,000 into the purchase of the four simulators. The simulation center was also funded in part by over $400,000 in Florida Department of Education Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) funding. The LINE fund was created to incentivize collaboration between nursing education programs and healthcare partners to combat the growing nursing shortage in the state.

“This is just the start. We will have more high-fidelity and medium-fidelity simulators in here. It will be everything that our nursing students need,” said Bellar, who explained the simulation center will allow students to reinforce and develop nursing skills in a safe manner so they can then go into the hospital and do their clinicals.

“What’s really unique about this program is the immersive exposure they get with the highly experienced nurses and leadership at Ascension Sacred Heart. We don’t get that without this type of arrangement. … Our emerging nurses are learning not just the fundamental skills, not just the basic bedside skills. They are learning some of the leadership skills. It is a much more well-rounded education for these students, and we are so excited to have them over here.”

Saunders said since October 2023, Ascension Sacred Heart has made a significant investment into the UWF nursing program through enhanced learning opportunities and clinical experiences for students.

“We know from talking with our community partnerships that these simulation labs are priceless - for everybody,” Saunders said. “So, I am really thrilled that this is a wonderful best practice, an example of high-impact practice. Our students will gain a deeper understanding of the roles and responsibilities when they are working with this team.”

Condon said the hospital has a simulation lab in the main hospital, however the new simulation center allows more expansion, different capabilities and additional scenarios for students.

In 2002, UWF started its BSN program. Since 2017, 856 students have graduated from the program.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Sacred Heart's new simulation center offers realistic learning lab for students