Sue & Bill Gross Nursing Simulation Center

Sue & Bill Gross Nursing Simulation Center

A State-of-the-Art Accredited Facility

The simulation center provides immersive education that mimics real-world experiences without real-world risks. Providing this level of education requires efforts from the center staff, the faculty, instructors, and educators who lead the simulation activities, and the students and learners.

Tools the simulation center offers for the faculty use can include full-scale simulation, task training, hybrid simulations, and human patient simulation (standardized patients). Simulations can use high-tech, full-bodied manikins to represent patients from newborn to adult. Task trainers focus on specific skills, and human simulation (standardized patients (SPs) involves volunteers trained to act and play the role of a patient.

Mission

Advance the UCI Sue and Bill Gross School of Nursing by providing students with high-quality, safe, and innovative learning experiences that ensure our graduates provide excellent care to their patients and communities.

Vision

Be a leader in innovative simulation education by demonstrating and advocating for high-quality learner-centered nursing education.

SSIH

2024 Provisional Accreditation by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH)

This milestone underscores our commitment to providing our students with high-quality, immersive, and innovative education. We’re one of 20 accredited programs in California and the only Simulation Center in the University of California system to have achieved this recognition. We built a strong foundation for future success to achieve this recognition. Provisional accreditation recognizes our adherence to rigorous standards in simulation education, including best practice teaching methodologies, continuous quality improvement, and dedicated efforts towards excellence in preparing the next generation of nursing professionals while advancing patient safety and healthcare outcomes. This sets us on the path to full accreditation in the future. Accreditation ensures that all Simulation Center activities meet the highest standards. More than 75% of state boards of registered nursing in the US regulate the use of simulation in nursing education, and this year, the California State Board of Nursing is moving forward with simulation-specific regulations. In the future, our accreditation status will serve as a key benchmark demonstrating our program’s regulatory compliance. Provisional accreditation lasts two years, after which the center will apply for full accreditation in teaching and education.

About SSH
The Hospital Bed Unit at the UC Irvine Sue and Bill Gross School of Nursing. Long room with hospital beds and headwalls lining the sides with high worktables in between
Hospital Bed Unit
The largest room in the UC Irvine Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing Simulation Center, the hospital bed unit houses a large skills-training space that can be divided into two rooms, or 8 realistic hospital room/inpatient spaces, or 4 outpatient exam spaces for assessment and other clinical skills. The unit also incorporations additional flexible spaces, with a crib, baby warmer, gurney. Large middle tables for instruction and skills labs are set up to incorporate projectors for teaching. Students practice skills and assessments in the unit. Equipment includes: Vital signs, monitors, headwalls, screens/projectors and diverse manikins of different ages, gender, skin color.
DNP instructor and students with patient actor in Flex/Exam room
Exam Room / Flex Rooms
Equipped as an outpatient clinic exam rooms, these units are used primarily for advanced practice nursing students (Family Nurse Practitioners/DNP). Students practice clinic visits, exam skills, history taking and telehealth visits with actors hired to portray patients. There is a dedicated control room for viewing and evaluating activities via the “Sim Capture” AV system. Equipment includes: Zoom setup for small group conferencing, equipment, exam tables, convertible exam chairs, computers, standard assessment tools and portable handwashing sinks.
SIM Center Debrief Room with table, cleaning supplies chairs, video monitor, whiteboards and debrief posters.
Debriefing Rooms
These Zoom-capable rooms are where students begin and end their simulation experience. Students meet in the debriefing rooms before the simulation for the pre-briefing where we establish psychological safety and prepare them for the scenario. Students return after the 20-30 minute scenario to debrief, a reflective activity where students re-examine their performance and receive feedback in safe learning environment. At the school, we use the PEARLS (Promoting Excellence And Reflective Learning in Simulation) approach.
Students and faculty performing a Code Simulation in the ICU Suite in the UC Irvine Sue & Blll Gross School of Nursing Simulation Center
Simulation Suites – ICU/Med/Surg/Peds/OB
These simulation suites are flexible to be whatever the space needs to look like and provides a realistic intensive care unit environment for students. Equipment includes: Headwalls with working 02, suction, IV pumps, adult and pediatric crash carts, simulated supplies, patient monitors on wall, large screen smart TVs.
SIM Center Community/Homecare Suite with Hospital bed, recliner, rug, sink, dining table and chairs
Simulation Suite – Community/Home
Flexible to be whatever the space needs to look like, and is set up with common home conditions and hazards. The room simulates interacting with clients and patients in a home environment where students can practice home visits and safety assessments. Equipment includes: Large screen smart TV and a non-functioning bathroom to practice safe transfer and home care.
Simulation tech watching a simulation in the control center behind one-way glass
Main Control Room
The main control room is the “Heart” of the “SIM Center” and houses the AV system and computers that control the manikins. Facilitators view students in the SIM rooms through 1-way glass and via the AV screen system.
SIM Center Provier Station and waiting area
Provider Station
The provider station enables simulated interprofessional hand-offs and is a place where students can congregate and can become familiar with the healthcare environment. It can be set up to simulate a variety of settings, such as a disaster triage space, a clinic waiting room or an inpatient nurses’ station.