GVSU receives federal grant to improve nursing workforce readiness through simulation

Grand Valley received a $1.5 million federal grant to improve nursing workforce readiness by increasing high-impact learning opportunities for students using multiple-patient simulations.

Tricia Thomas, dean of the Kirkhof College of Nursing, said the three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) also enhances training and education to better serve underrepresented and diverse populations.

Thomas said two of KCON's practice partners, Corewell Health and Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, will collaborate to design simulations for nursing students.

Grand Valley is uniquely suited for this grant because of its state-of-the-art Simulation Center , in the DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health. The 68,000-square-foot center includes an operating suite and hospital suite.

"Our students will have opportunities to go among two or three patient rooms and learn to make decisions about triage and patient care," Thomas said. "Our graduates will be better prepared to care for multiple patients immediately after graduating because they have a better understanding of clinical judgment and reasoning."

She called simulation education a gift, as students learn and make mistakes in a supportive environment. 

"This is really empowered education. Nursing students read material ahead of a scenario, complete the scenario and then debrief with faculty," Thomas said. "The psychological safety of the simulation leads to a sense of belonging and really benefits a student's education."

Multiple-patient simulations will begin in the winter semester. The grant money will be used to purchase equipment, hire affiliate and clinical faculty members and coordinate simulations with practice partners.