UMass Boston unveils state-of-the-art nursing and healthcare facility

Realizing that the classroom and clinical placements are increasingly insufficient in preparing students to function in our complex healthcare environment, UMass Boston is now setting a new trend in nursing and healthcare education and training with the grand opening of its Center for Clinical Education and Research in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS). The spanking new $4.6 million, 5100 sq ft. facility is among the first of its kind in New England, and is built to showcase patient simulation, a rapidly growing trend in healthcare education, which mimics the clinical setting but eliminates any risk to patients. The center aims to improve the safety and quality of care provided by students and practicing clinicians through the use of simulation and advanced technology, which allows deliberate repetitive practice, team and communication exercises and immediate feedback. Along with the teaching aspect, the Center will be participating in research endeavors that identify the best practices and evaluate the effectiveness of simulation.

“By providing state of the art instructional facilities, CNHS is combining research and innovation as never before,” said Chancellor J. Keith Motley. “We are certain to improve the lives of countless people throughout Massachusetts.”

The University identified this project as a top priority, secured substantial funding and for the past three years has painstakingly worked with design experts to duplicate actual hospital and clinic conditions and through remarkable advances in technology create powerful new forms of teaching and learning. Fully operational since January 29, 2008, the new facility in the harbor campus’ science building boasts a family of lifelike patient simulators capable of changing their physiology and verbally responding to questions that are housed in fully equipped acute, critical care or exam rooms. The CCER also includes the exercise and health sciences labs that are outfitted with the most sophisticated fitness, performance and cardiac stress testing equipment available and technologically advanced classrooms, which allow the lectures, demonstrations and simulations to be recorded, broadcasted and frequently reviewed and debriefed by students and faculty. All of this incredible technology has revolutionized hands-on training in nursing and health sciences education. “With the help of these patient simulators, nursing education for our students is becoming more and more like treating live patients in a real hospital,” said dean of CNHS Greer Glazer. “And it is so fulfilling to have a state of the art facility of the highest quality for our outstanding students, who deserve the best.”

Each day the CCER is filled with undergraduate students participating in simulation experiences that have been designed to meet learning objectives specific to their clinical course, level of expertise and ability to expand their performance. Many of our graduate students are gaining expertise in simulation as they write the scenarios, program and run the simulation and most importantly guide the debriefing process where much of the learning occurs as students reflect on their feelings and performance. Student evaluations have been extremely positive and they are asking for, “more simulations and in every clinical course”. When asked what they have learned from simulation many responded, “How to adjust and prioritize”; “You need to work as a team and communicate clearly”; “To think critically and from different perspectives in a timely manner”

Judith Healey Walsh, CCER’s director stressed that, “Patient safety is a driving force advocating for simulation as a key component in both pre and post licensure education. Simulation helps to identify gaps and allows healthcare providers to practice the technological, teamwork and communication skills crucial to safe, quality care.” She added that, “we hope to become a regional training center for simulation so that other colleges and healthcare institutions can benefit from our facility and expertise”

CCER is all set to project UMass Boston to the forefront of healthcare education in the country and to make a mark for itself in the medical mecca, which is greater Boston.