Innovative Simulation and Practice Center

A crucial learning tool 

accreditation logo from Society for Simulation in HealthcareAt Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences, the Innovative Simulation and Practice Center (ISPC) is an integral part of the education experience. The ISPC is accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare in the area of Teaching/Education.

The laboratory space and equipment that comprise the center significantly expanded in 2005 with a generous gift from the Dr. G. Clifford and Florence B. Decker Foundation.

  • The Practice Center consists of a 10-bed hospital ward, four-bed exam area and three exam rooms where undergraduate and graduate students hone their assessment skills. 
  • The Simulation Center houses two simulated hospital rooms that can be configured as emergency, critical care, medical-surgical or labor and delivery rooms. 

Hours of simulation education delivered last year:

undergrad simulation
Undergrad nursing students

In 2020 our undergraduate students will spend, on average, more than 30 hours participating in simulation activities.

grad simulation
Graduate nursing students

In 2020 our graduate students will spend, on average, more than 24 hours participating in simulation activities.

grad simulation
Community learners

Healthcare staff from groups and organizations in the region can take advantage of our simulation education programs.

The two simulated hospital rooms and three practice exam rooms are all equipped with video- and audio-recording capabilities to allow recording of skills and scenarios. Students review their videos and reflect on their performance, from communication and technical skills to critical thinking and decision making.

The center houses a family of human-patient simulators including newborn, pediatric, adult and birthing simulators. These high-fidelity computerized mannequins are technologically advanced teaching tools that can be programmed to represent typical and complex clinical patient conditions and clinical situations. Using human-patient simulators, students learn to assess changes in a patient's status and react to those changes with appropriate interventions. Dynamic and interactive mannequins verbally respond to student questions and clinically respond to student interventions.

Learn how your organization can rent ISPC facilities for your simulation training needs.

Leading nursing education through state-of-the-art simulation technology

Vision

The vision of the Innovative Simulation and Practice Center at 黑料视频's Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences is to emerge as a national leader in healthcare simulation education and scholarship.

Mission

Our mission is to use innovative simulation experiences in the education of nurses and healthcare workers to provide safe, evidence-based, culturally sensitive care and promote wellness.

To achieve this mission, we commit to:

  • Using simulation education throughout the nursing curriculum using scenarios that increase participants' skill base, critical thinking, cultural awareness and sensitivity
  • Collaborating with healthcare affiliates to improve patient care by:
    • Facilitating interprofessional collaborations through experiential learning
    • Acting as a resource for developing effective scenarios
  • Contributing to the body of research in healthcare simulation education
  • Providing a state-of-the-art facility for instruction

Center staff


The Institute of Medicine and the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations have asserted that patient safety is a high priority in training. The best way to enhance such training is with simulators.
Patti Reuther '96, MS '08, director of innovative simulation and practice

Read an article about simulation featured in Decker Connect, our annual magazine.