Establishing an innovative practices center means significant upgrades to what nursing students currently call the "Learning Lab." Situated on the second floor of the Decker School, technological improvements to the lab will be many, but of great importance is the purchase of two SimMan® units, "portable and advanced patient simulators for team training. SimMan® is a life-sized mannequin (click image at left to enlarge) with high tech capabilities that has realistic anatomy and clinical functionality which challenge and test students' clinical and decision-making skills during realistic patient-care scenarios."

Another purchase to enhance the learning lab and assist nursing student's in building confidence in their clinical skills will be the purchase of an Adult Virtual I.V., a comprehensive and fully interactive self-directed learning system for intravenous catheterization training. Students will be able to practice starting I.V.s using a patient model which provides computerized state-of-the-art feedback. Case scenarios, simulations, automated debriefing, and educational content will enable students to experience all aspects of peripheral venous catheterization.