Simulating Success

A New Era of Nursing Education

Lake Land College nursing graduates can be found in nearly every corner of healthcare. From hospitals to clinics to nursing homes, they care for a countless number of patients and treat an endless number of symptoms. Thanks to Lake Land’s new Sarah Bush Lincoln High Fidelity Nursing Simulation Lab, they’re ready for nearly every case that comes their way.

HIGH-TECH HEALING

With a generous donation from Sarah Bush Lincoln, Lake Land College created a state-of-the-art learning environment in 2024. The simulation lab consists of two replica hospital rooms, each one with a high-tech patient model that coughs, sneezes, grunts in pain and even complains about symptoms.

“Realism is the key for the students to get the most benefit from the simulations,” Simulation Lab Nurse Rachael Walker explained. “Our sim lab allows students to practice the most basic to advanced assessments and nursing skills in a safe, no-harm setting.”

THE WIZARD BEHIND THE CURTAIN

During the simulations, Rachael sits behind a one-way window, observing student activity and adjusting the robotic patient’s symptoms in response. Through her methodical simulations, Rachael ensures all nursing students have the chance to manage elaborate cases that will prepare them for real-life patient care.

“Clinical experiences can vary greatly from student to student, so the sim lab allows for consistency to ensure the nursing students are all experiencing similar scenarios,” Rachael said. “Repeated practice on the simulators allows students to improve their clinical judgment and build their confidence.”

LIFE’S GREATEST TEACHER

Perhaps the greatest benefit of the simulation lab is that it gives students a chance to make mistakes. Nursing is a high-stakes profession, where even the slightest error can lead to dire outcomes. But in the safety of the simulation lab, students are empowered to try different treatments and witness their results, confident that with every experience, they’re better prepared for the real thing.

“We’ve loved the feedback we’ve gotten so far!” Rachael said. “Students have relayed that they feel safe to make mistakes, take their time to critically think through scenarios and practice skills to become more efficient.”