Student in a simulation taking the vitals of a patient simulator

Simulation Center

Belmont University Simulation Center consists of more than 7,600 square feet of simulation space.  The center serves the students of the Gordon E. Inman College of Nursing and the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences.

simulation-1.jpgThe Simulation Center has 44 patient simulators that vary in their functionality.  The Center include is made up of two 8-bed skills labs, one 7 bed simulation space, two four room simulation suites, an assessment lab and a debriefing space. The spaces are outfitted with hospital furnishings such as functional headwalls with suction and simulated compressed oxygen, Pyxis™ medication and supply stations, Alaris™ IV pumps, a large inventory of task trainers and devices to aide in patient positioning and transfer.  These support the centers mission by providing a life-like learning environment.

In addition to patient simulators the simulation center employs trained actors to play the part of patients and family members. These actors referred to as Simulated Participants add realism and give the students the opportunity to develop communication skills and empathy.

The faculty and staff of the simulation center are highly trained to plan, implement and evaluate simulation based experiences for our students.

Belmont University’s Simulation Center was the first center in the state of Tennessee to accredited by the Society for Simulation in Health Care and is Endorsed by the International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning for excellence in implementing the Four Core Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice.

Society for Simulation in Healthcare Accredited Program Teaching/Education Logo

Endorsed by INACSL 2022-2025 logo

Mission

To improve patient safety and health outcomes by providing high quality, evidence based, experiential education in a safe innovative environment.

Vision

To become a national leader in interprofessional healthcare simulation.

Goals

  • Integrating interprofessional experiences into the beginning health professions curricula.
  • Fostering simulation research to improve healthcare education, processes and outcomes.
  • Providing innovative learning strategies to enhance patient care quality in accordance with the national Patient Safety goals.
  • Enhancing statewide improvement in patient care and safety by collaborating with our external communities of interests to provide simulated experiences.

Simulation Facilities

Centennial Nursing Inman 130

Inman Lab 130 is utilized for more advanced skill training and simulation.  There are eight beds in a “ward” like fashion and eight Laerdal™  SimPad patient simulators.  There is a pyxis medication administration console, Alaris™  IV pumps at each bed station, functional headwalls and Ipad Patient monitors at the head of each bed.  The Center of the room has sixteen student seats for debriefing, demonstration a projector, computer and speakers for presentation of materials. Students in this lab learn skills such as tracheostomy care and suctioning, intravenous medication administration and central line dressing care.

Margaret Lindsley Warden Lab Inman 132

student drawing up med in Margaret Lindsley Warden Lab Inman 132Inman Lab 132 is almost identical to lab 130 in its configuration. Students in this lab learn beginning nursing skills such as bed making, sterile technique including urinary catheter insertion, safe medication administration and communication. There are 8 bed stations with five Sim Pad Capable Laerdal™  simulators and the remaining three are Low fidelity full body task trainers.  Each bed space has Hill Rom Beds, functioning headwalls and Alaris™  IV pumps. There is a Pyxis Medication Administration for teaching safe medication administration. The center of the room has sixteen student seats for debriefing and demostration and a projector, computer and speakers for presentation of materials.

Skyline Acute Care Skills Lab Inman 232

Two students participating in a nursing simulationInman Lab 232 is the most heavily used simulation space; where the high-fidelity simulations occur. The space is a high-fidelity lab; there are two Laerdal™ Essential Patient simulators, two Laerdal™  3G patient simulators and two Laerdal™  ALS patient simulators and one Laerdal™ ™ SimPad capable patient simulator. Within this space there is the capability to video tape the simulations for live-feed observation or taping for later viewing and reflection; using VALT ™ software from Intelligent Video Solutions. Each bed space also has functional headwall, touch screen patient monitors, Alaris™ IV pumps and Hill Rom Beds. The Center of the room has sixteen student seats for debriefing and a projector, computer and speakers for presentation of materials. There is an associated control room where the patient simulators and video are controlled.

Summit Health Assessment Lab Inman 311

grad student examining ears in Summit Health Assessment Lab Inman 311 Inman Lab 311 was originally the Pediatric and Obstetrical when the Inman Building was completed in 2006; in 2015 we converted this space to an eight-bed health assessment space where both graduate and undergraduate students complete the laboratory portion of their health assessment courses.  There are eight exam tables with privacy curtains and otoscopes and ophthalmoscopes at the head of each bay.  The Center of the room has sixteen student seats for debriefing and a projector, computer and speakers for the presentation of materials. In 2021 video capabilities were added so that students and faculty can record health assessment practicals and can view video for self-reflection and faculty feedback.

JD Elliot Maternal Pediatric Simulation Lab Inman 332

Students listening to a Simulation Baby in the JD Elliot Maternal Pediatric Simulation Lab Inman 332Inman Lab 332 is a four-bed obstetrical-pediatric simulation suite. The OB-Peds space consists of four individual patient rooms that also has video capability. There are two Laerdal™ SimMoms, two SimJr, two SimBabies, a SimNewB, a Gaumard™ Tory and several other SimPad capable pediatric mannequins.  In addition, there is a control room that holds the Walt video and instructor computers.

Interprofessional Simulation McWhorter 209

Students working in a live simulation in McWhorter 209McWhorter Lab 209 is the Interprofessional space in McWhorter Hall which is adjacent to Inman. There are four patient rooms that are versatile in their use and configuration.  The center of the space is a control room where faculty can control both the VALT™ video and associated patient simulators.

Multimedia Debriefing Room McWhorter 400

The debriefing space is outfitted with two large screen monitors and 8 sets of head-phones that can be linked to the monitors.  Students can view simulations from any VALT video capable spaces on campus.  In addition, there is a white board for student collaborative work.

Simulation Center Faculty and Staff