UTEP Nursing SimLab Earns Accreditation
UTEP Nursing SimLab Earns Accreditation
Adds two AI mannequins to bolster Nursing education
In a university where excellence abounds, UTEP nursing students hold a unique distinction. Beyond surpassing the local and national averages for first-time pass rates on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), UTEP graduates also make up 60% of El Paso’s nurses – a testament to their quality and desire to improve our border community.
A key reason for UTEP nursing’s excellence is its Center for Simulation, popularly known as the SimLab. The center, which spans 16,000 square feet, is a model for nursing education throughout the state, with Texas Tech University and The University of Texas at Austin being among the universities who have visited to learn how to create similar learning environments at their respective universities. Recently, the center has increased its prominence with its accreditation by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.
“Over the years, our primary focus has been on creating an environment that best represents the variety of healthcare scenarios our students will encounter as full-fledged nurses,” said Ronnie Stout, DNP, the director of the Center for Simulation. “This accreditation, in addition to the numerous universities and healthcare organizations that have visited to emulate our center at their respective institutions, is testament to the great work our SimLab team does to prepare exceptional nurses for the border region and beyond.”
As part of its ongoing mission to educate quality nurses, the Center for Simulation has added to its array of manikins with the addition of Hal and Susie, which are distinct in that they possess AI technology that renders them capable of imitating bodily functions for a range of medical aliments. In addition, the mannequins have speech capability that can be programmed to mimic different types of personalities, giving students the opportunity to refine their bedside manner with the range of patients they will encounter in their work.
“Hal and Susie replicate the healthcare scenarios in ways that truly ingrain knowledge and empathy in UTEP nursing students,” said Leslie Robbins, Ph.D., dean of the College of Nursing. “Their ability to mimic the symptoms of different healthcare issues, and verbally communicate as a patient, is the type of real-world learning that will continue to make UTEP nurses far and away the experts in nursing practice.”
By Mario Vazquez
UTEP Marketing and Communications
