Simulation Innovation & Mentoring Services

High-tech simulation-based authentic scenarios with performance coaching to prepare you for work in health care.

Throughout your journey to your nursing degree, you will work in simulation-based learning spaces to practice the skills needed to be a nurse. You will utilize these facilities during scheduled course activities, but they are also available for students to use for additional practice. The College of Nursing Simulation Innovation and Mentoring Services (SIMS) includes facilities in Tucson and Gilbert for students enrolled in our programs. Resources also include the Complex Adaptive Competency Lab.

GILBERT, AZ SIMULATION CENTER

Realistic Patient Scenarios

The U of A College of Nursing Gilbert campus includes a simulation center where students engage in clinical procedures and patient care scenarios under the direction of faculty and simulation specialists. Simulation spaces include an eight-bed skills lab, six hospital rooms, a nurses' station with a medication room, three debrief rooms, three learning labs, six physical exam rooms, and wellness rooms.

Simulated Hospital Rooms
The Gilbert Simulation Center includes six hospital rooms equipped with high-tech patient simulators and a video/audio media system for observation and recording of patient care scenarios. BSN-IH and MEPN students utilize these spaces to manage simulated patient care and to perform procedures while mentored by faculty and simulation specialists. Each hospital room is outfitted as needed with items such as: Hospital furniture Patient bed-side monitor Medical equipment (e.g., intravenous infusion devices) Simulated Electronic Health Records (EHR) & medication bar-code scanner

Simulated Hospital Rooms

The Gilbert Simulation Center includes six hospital rooms equipped with high-tech patient simulators and a video/audio media system for observation and recording of patient care scenarios. BSN-IH and MEPN students utilize these spaces to manage simulated patient care and to perform procedures while mentored by faculty and simulation specialists. Each hospital room is outfitted as needed with items such as:

Hospital furniture
Patient bed-side monitor
Medical equipment (e.g., intravenous infusion devices)
Simulated Electronic Health Records (EHR) & medication bar-code scanner

Multi-patient Simulation Rooms
Two of the six simulated hospital rooms in Gilbert accommodate multiple patient simulators. One of these rooms often serves as a labor and delivery suite and the other multi-patient room includes furnishings to facilitate residential or home health scenarios.

Learning Lab with Exam Rooms
There are six outpatient clinic exam rooms surrounding a central learning lab where students engage in skills practice and competency testing. Each exam room is furnished with an exam table and physical assessment equipment. These rooms are also used for interdisciplinary and telehealth simulations with prelicensure and advanced practice nursing students.

Learning Lab
Three Learning Labs in the Gilbert Simulation Center provide students with flexible, interactive learning environments. Students are provided presentations on multiple large screens and demonstrations along with opportunities to practice skills and patient care. Patient simulators, skills-task trainers and medical equipment is set-up in these labs based on scheduled course activities.

Debrief Room
Students engage in guided reflection of their simulation experiences in one of three debrief rooms in Gilbert. These rooms provide comfortable safe spaces to exchange how students felt during a scenario, what went well, and what was learned to apply to care of actual patients in the future.

Wellness Spaces
There are two dedicated wellness spaces in the Gilbert Simulation Center. The wellness spaces are used as part of education activities and for relaxation and renewal. Students are encouraged to use mindfulness and centering techniques as they approach patient care simulations.

Nurses Station
Students enjoy immersion in the simulated hospital environment upon entering through automated double doors to reach the nurses station. The medication room door is behind the nurses station near patient care items used during simulations. Cameras and microphones throughout the center follow students through the rooms to make activities visible to other learners and faculty.

TUCSON, AZ SIMULATION CENTER

Steele Innovative Learning Center (SILC)

Simulation that improves your critical thinking and decision-making skills. In Tucson, our main SILC simulation space features 12 beds where students engage in clinical procedures and patient care scenarios under the direction of faculty and simulation specialists. There are also three simulated hospital rooms with interactive patient simulators.

Common Procedure Lab
The main area of SILC features 12 beds where students engage in team-based clinical procedures under the direction of faculty and simulation specialists. The area can be equipped with: Patient simulators Task training models Medication dispensing stations Students enrolled in clinical programs regularly visit the SILC to engage in supervised practice. Students may schedule additional time to practice procedures.

Common Procedure Lab

The main area of SILC features 12 beds where students engage in team-based clinical procedures under the direction of faculty and simulation specialists. The area can be equipped with:

Patient simulators
Task training models
Medication dispensing stations

Students enrolled in clinical programs regularly visit the SILC to engage in supervised practice. Students may schedule additional time to practice procedures.

Intensive Care Simulation Rooms
The SILC houses three intensive care rooms equipped with high-tech patient simulators and a video/audio media system for observation and recording of simulation scenarios. Students regularly utilize these specialized spaces to manage simulated patient care and to perform procedures while mentored by faculty and simulation specialists. Each room is outfitted as needed based on the scenario with items such as: Hospital furniture Patient bed-side monitor Medical equipment (e.g., intravenous infusion devices) Simulated Electronic Health Records (EHR) and medication bar-code scanner

Intensive Care Simulation Rooms

The SILC houses three intensive care rooms equipped with high-tech patient simulators and a video/audio media system for observation and recording of simulation scenarios.

Students regularly utilize these specialized spaces to manage simulated patient care and to perform procedures while mentored by faculty and simulation specialists. Each room is outfitted as needed based on the scenario with items such as:

Hospital furniture
Patient bed-side monitor
Medical equipment (e.g., intravenous infusion devices)
Simulated Electronic Health Records (EHR) and medication bar-code scanner

The College of Nursing Simulation Innovation and Mentoring Services (SIMS) provides an array of support for faculty, students, and partners. Learn more.