University Park

New sim lab to be unveiled at nursing anniversary celebration

University Park, Pa. -- In honor of its 45th anniversary, the Penn State School of Nursing will be hosting a celebration on April 24-25. The celebration will feature many events, including the grand opening of a state-of-the-art simulation facility. 

The weekend begins with a research forum, sponsored by the Beta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, focusing on research in the School of Nursing. Nursing continuing education contact hours will be provided for the research forum. Then, during a reception on Friday evening for alumni and friends of the school, Paula Milone-Nuzzo, dean of the School of Nursing, and past directors of the school will share their perspectives on the development and history of Nursing at Penn State and highlight plans for the future. The celebration weekend will culminate with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, which will unveil the newly renovated Nursing Simulation Laboratory. Tours of the new facilities will follow.

The Nursing Simulation Laboratory was designed to give students hands-on clinical experience and includes an intensive care unit, a pediatric room, a maternity room, a ‘fundamentals’ laboratory and a four-bed primary care unit. Each room will be occupied by high-tech mannequins that simulate symptoms, diseases and conditions that nurses are likely to see in a real care setting. For example, the maternity room will include a mannequin that delivers a baby. 

The events are open to the public, and anyone interested in registering can visit http://www.hhdev.psu.edu/nurs/celebration for more information.

The School of Nursing was established in 1964, and there are currently more than 1,400 students attending Nursing courses across ten Penn State campuses. The school offers degrees at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. It became an independent academic unit at Penn State in July 2008.

“This is an exciting time for the School of Nursing.” says Milone-Nuzzo. “We’re celebrating our new status as a stand-alone academic unit at Penn State, our 45th anniversary, and the opening of our new simulation lab.”

Last Updated April 20, 2009

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