AURORA, Colo. (June 19, 2024) – The University of Colorado College of Nursing simulation lab at the Anschutz Medical Campus has been awarded a Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement recognition from the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL).
INACSL’s endorsement recognizes healthcare institutions and practices that have demonstrated excellence in applying simulation standards in four areas: Prebriefing, debriefing, facilitation, and professional integrity. These standards highlight CU Nursing’s ability to excel in creating immersive clinical simulations for nursing students that enhance learning, promote professional development, and/or advance the science of simulation.
“Simulation is an extremely important ingredient in training nursing students to become great nurses as it allows them to test their skills in an immersive, safe, and non-threatening environment. CU Nursing is so proud of this honor,” says Dean Elias Provencio-Vasquez, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAANP. “We are committed to excellence in nursing education and this designation reaffirms that commitment. Students will benefit from knowing they are receiving high-quality simulation education from outstanding faculty when they enroll in our nursing programs.”
CU Nursing’s simulation lab includes high fidelity mannikins programmed to have appropriate psychological responses to care provided by the nursing student, task trainers that allow students to practice necessary procedural skills like blood draws, virtual reality technology delivering hands-on immersive experiences, and standardized patients who engage with students providing human interaction and the ability to practice in real-life scenarios – all under the supervision of faculty.
“This is great news for CU Nursing and our commitment to nursing education,” Assistant Dean of Clinical Simulation Fara Bowler, DNP, APRN, CHSE, says. “This designation allows CU Nursing to lead the way in simulation education and teaching the next generation of nurses.”
INACSL’s review committee praised CU Nursing for its “dedication to simulation through support and professional development of simulationists.”
“We have faculty that have specialized teaching, specifically in simulation and clinical education. Their dedication and expertise are a large factor in the INACSL Endorsement recognition for the high-quality simulation that they deliver to our students,” Bowler says.
CU Nursing expanded its simulation space by nearly 15,000 square feet in the Fall of 2023. The college is expected to have more than 20,000 square feet of space this year, making it the largest nursing simulation space in the Rocky Mountain region. CU Nursing’s simulation education is across three campuses: CU Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, the Legacy Innovation Center in Lone Tree, and Fort Lewis College in Durango.
“We are at the forefront of integrating simulation throughout our curricula so our students have a safe environment to learn the skills needed in the nursing profession,” Bowler says. “We understand the benefits of having students engage in immersive clinical simulation and want to continue finding innovative ways to teach nursing.”
The endorsement is in effect for three years (2024-2027), after which the college can re-apply for a five-year extension. CU Nursing received the Endorsement Award from INACSL during a conference in Raleigh, North Carolina June 12-15.
About the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is a world-class medical destination at the forefront of transformative science, medicine, education and patient care. The campus encompasses the University of Colorado health professional schools, more than 60 centers and institutes, and two nationally ranked independent hospitals - UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital Colorado – which see more than 2 million adult and pediatric patient visits yearly. Innovative, interconnected and highly collaborative, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus delivers life-changing treatments, patient care and professional training and conducts world-renowned research fueled by $705 million in research grants. For more information, visit www.cuanschutz.edu.
