(MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ) -- The Middlesex College Nursing Program, in partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health, has opened a new Nursing Simulation Lab to promote patient safety and prepare students for practice in the nation’s complex and dynamic health care system.The Nursing Simulation Lab was funded through the Securing Our Children’s Future Fund from the State of New Jersey, which supports workforce training for in-demand careers at New Jersey’s county colleges.

The immersive experience of the Nursing Simulation Lab includes three inpatient rooms for adult, pediatric, and maternity care; a community room; and nurse’s station. Every room is set up with similar medical equipment and furnishings found in the clinical environment, and students are able to practice medication administration and documentation using in-room laptops. In addition, each room has video recording capabilities that provide students with the opportunity to learn from observations of their peers’ performance during debriefing with simulation faculty.

“The Nursing Simulation Lab serves as a state-of-the-art learning center designed to mirror a professional health care setting for nursing students to become workforce ready,” said Kara Kaldawi, director of the joint Middlesex College/Hackensack Meridian Health Nursing Program. “With the support of our exceptional faculty, students will learn through real-life scenarios as they apply classroom learning to hands-on experience. Having a safe learning space, such as this lab, for students to practice caring for patients ensures that we are educating future nurses equipped for the demands of health care.”

The simulation program begins with the basics of nursing practice and progresses to complex patient situations and advanced skills. Students are able to learn to think critically in complicated situations, communicate effectively with patients, and optimize patient outcomes through teamwork and the development of interprofessional skills.

Kaldawi notes that simulation lab practice has been shown to significantly enhance nursing students’ clinical judgment, decision-making, and hands-on skills, while encouraging collaboration with their peers.

“Research highlights that incorporating simulation-based learning into nursing education can improve students’ readiness for clinical scenarios, ultimately contributing to a confident graduate who is able to make safe and timely decisions,” Kaldawi said.

“The partnership between Hackensack Meridian Health and Middlesex College continues to provide new and innovative opportunities for students and faculty,” said Regina Foley, executive vice president, interim president central region, chief nurse executive, and chief transformation and integration officer at Hackensack Meridian Health. “We are excited to collaborate with the College as we prepare the next generation of nurses for successful careers and to help fill the gap in the nursing workforce.”

“We are thrilled to open the new Nursing Simulation Lab at Middlesex College, which represents our commitment to providing our students with the highest quality of education and hands-on training,” said Middlesex College President Mark McCormick. “By collaborating with Hackensack Meridian Health, we are preparing future nurses to excel in an ever-evolving health care environment. The Nursing Simulation Lab offers our students the opportunity to engage in realistic scenarios that will help them develop the critical thinking and clinical skills needed to enhance patient care and ensure the safety and well-being of those they serve.”

“This cutting-edge simulation lab will further enhance nursing students’ learning experience, giving them the opportunity to learn and practice critical skills in real-world clinical scenarios, all in a low-pressure environment before they put those skills to work on actual patients,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. “This immersive learning experience will help ensure that graduates of this program are among the best prepared nurses anywhere.”

In 2023, the Nursing Program achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination, required for nursing graduates to pass to be licensed as a registered nurse in the United States and Canada, and has a three-year average first-time pass rate of 94.69%, which consistently exceeds the associate degree national average for first-time exam test takers. More information about the nursing program can be found on the College website.

Middlesex College, established in 1964, is a public, two-year institution of higher education located in the heart of New Jersey. With a main campus in Edison and centers in New Brunswick and Perth Amboy, Middlesex College offers over 85 degree and certificate programs encouraging its more than 10,000 students to explore, grow, and thrive. Middlesex College, through dedicated faculty, state-of-the-art educational facilities, and holistic student supports, is committed to providing a high-quality, affordable college education that provides every student an opportunity for growth and achievement. Middlesex College is Middlesex County’s premier destination for lifelong learning and workforce training.