Elevating Student Learning with New Health Care Simulation Lab

Community College of Philadelphia officially opened their Health Care Simulation Lab in February, where students can practice working under the pressure of an emergency in a safe and supportive environment. The lab is made up of six patient rooms and two medication rooms equipped with state-of-the-art technology and realistic patient mannequins, all designed to mimic a real-life hospital setting. In this space, students will have the opportunity to care for patients across the lifespan, from newborns to older adults in a wide range of medical scenarios, from routine procedures to critical emergencies.

“This new health care simulation lab represents our commitment to excellence, innovation, and most importantly, to our students and to the patients in the City of Philadelphia,” said Dr. Lisa Johnson, professor and department head of Nursing. “This simulation lab is designed to allow the flexibility to replicate a variety of real-life health care settings and ensures that every student has the opportunity to perform key skills while managing high-risk, high-impact situations.”

Since students are not able to take the lead in a real emergency scenario by themselves during their training, the simulation lab provides them with an environment to deliver care, build confidence and learn where they may need improvement.

“What makes a space like this so special is that it allows us to learn in ways we simply can't anywhere else,” said Sheridan Salazar, a recent Nursing graduate. “In the textbook, you can read about CPR. In CPR training, you can memorize the steps. Even in clinical, you may not always get the opportunity to lead or participate in an emergency. But, in a simulation, you are placed right in that moment.”

After participating in a simulation with a group of fellow students, Sheridan very quickly saw a difference in the way him and his peers were operating. “Even in just three short hours, I saw growth, not only in myself, but in my classmates as well. We became more decisive, our communication improved and our confidence grew.”

Students are just as eager to use this space as their faculty are to introduce them to it.

“What excites me the most about this space is the opportunity for hands-on experience,” said Jose Rosario, a first-year, second-semester Nursing student. “During clinical hours as a student, we are often limited with the tasks that we can perform. Many times, we observe and assist seasoned nurses, and while that's valuable...I want to think critically, make decisions and take accountability for my actions.”

Community College of Philadelphia is proud to be able to offer this kind of learning to students in the College’s health care programs, including Nursing, Digital Medical Imaging and Respiratory Care Technology. This lab was made possible through a Perkins Grant.