Nursing lab earns distinction
Simulation center receives provisional accreditation
Wheaton’s nursing program earned a major point of distinction recently, receiving provisional accreditation from the international Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) for the college’s Nursing Simulation Center.
The accreditation makes the college’s simulation center one of the few such facilities dedicated to undergraduate nursing to earn this recognition. The accreditation process takes a comprehensive view of the facility, considering not only its space and equipment but also the training of staff and its integration into the nursing curriculum.
“We are incredibly proud of this achievement and look forward to continuing our mission of shaping the next generation of skilled and compassionate nurses,” said Colette Dieujuste, RN, Ph.D., dean of the college’s nursing program.
“This recognition affirms our commitment to providing exceptional, experiential learning for our nursing students, preparing them to deliver high-quality care in real-world clinical environments.”
Wheaton’s state-of-the-art clinical simulation center is designed and equipped to resemble modern health care facilities. It includes labs for intensive care (ICU), pediatrics, labor and delivery, medical surgical care and community health care. The facility is overseen by Dean Dieujuste and staffed by Director of Simulation and Professor of the Practice Lori Martone-Roberts DNP, RN, CHSE., and the Simulation Operations Specialist Raymond Harvey.
The goal of the center is to provide nursing students with opportunities to practice developing clinical skills in a safe and moderated learning environment. The lab features high-fidelity manikins that help students to build a strong foundation for future success.
“This accreditation highlights the advanced technology and innovative learning strategies used in our simulation lab,” said Professor Martone-Roberts. “The recognition by SSH places us among the nation’s leading institutions in healthcare simulation education.”
The provisional accreditation, which is granted for two years, will be followed by a comprehensive review of the simulation center’s performance that will lead to full accreditation.