Breaking Ground: Team Doubles Nursing Simulation Lab at University
A $1.2-million nursing simulation lab expansion is helping lead a Pennsylvania university into the future.
Known as the Curran Hall Celtic Simulation Center for Innovation Learning, this project expanded and upgraded a high-fidelity nursing simulation lab program at Carlow University. Carlow maintains a reputation for excellence in its nursing, respiratory care and nurse practitioner programs. Offering state-of-the-art facilities supports that reputation.
What are nursing simulation labs?
Nursing simulation labs “are very high intensity, tech-driven facilities.” This is according to an article published in the March/April 2020 issue of Breaking Ground magazine. In one room, nursing students work with robots. These robots talk and respond very much like human patients. Instructors in another room guide the nursing procedures. And administrators working in another room control the simulations.
Meeting mechanical and electrical engineering challenges
The project added 2,000 square feet and doubled the simulation space. The team completed the work during summer break. This prevented disruption of university operations or student activities.
McKim & Creed provided mechanical and electrical engineering services. The six-story dual duct box building had not been renovated since it was built in the 1960s. “This presented a real challenge. We needed to fit 21st-century M/E system upgrades within the 20th-century space. However, we were able to find rebuilt kits for the boxes. And they worked great,” said Patrick Branch, PE. Pat oversaw McKim & Creed’s MEP services on the project.
The result
The expanded and upgraded nursing simulation lab space allows Carlow to accommodate more nursing and respiratory care students. This is according to David Meadows, Carlow’s senior vice president for finance and administration. “We have actually had other universities in the region that are looking to revamp and re-engineer their simulation and high-fidelity space come to our labs,” he is quoted as saying.