Simulation has evolved into an increasingly greater portion of the pedagogical techniques used by nursing and healthcare programs across the country. As clinical sites become more difficult to access, due to increasing demand as well as healthcare restriction, simulation has moved from the periphery to center-stage for clinical nursing education.
Queensborough Community College’s Nursing Department has an outstanding Virtual Hospital which affords students the opportunity to practice in a safe and technologically sophisticated environment. Ongoing generous support from the New York Community Bank Foundation, the Verizon Foundation, the Michael Mullan Fund and numerous, faculty led grant initiatives, have been integral to the Hospital’s success and growing reputation as a cutting–edge learning facility.
The Nursing Department continues to expand the Virtual Hospital to support student learning in a safe, technologically advanced setting that allows students to engage in active learning and at the same time, to increase their confidence. In this setting, faculty members have the opportunity to immediately and continually monitor students and give feedback that is critical to fostering self-reflection and at the same time, sharpen clinical reasoning. The opportunity to practice these skills is important for all nursing students, but especially for the multicultural population at Queensborough, with many whom English is their second language.