In classrooms that mimic hospital rooms, with patients who exhibit actual symptoms, and using the same technology they will in their future jobs, nursing students at Ivy Tech Community College are getting a true hands-on education.
At Ivy Tech campuses across the state, nursing and health sciences students are learning on the latest technology in simulation labs meant to mimic the situations they will face in the field. Multiple renovations and construction projects have been focused on providing the best learning experience for students, Ivy Tech Associate Vice President for Nursing Michele Gonser said.
In the last two years, renovation and construction projects have been done at Sellersburg, Richmond, Bloomington, Evansville, Madison, Marion, and Franklin, with work ongoing in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne.
The investments ensure Ivy Tech continues to graduate the most RNs in Indiana and that they are prepared to serve the significant healthcare needs across the state, Gonser said.
At the Ivy Tech campus in Richmond, that includes virtual reality technology, where students can practice taking vitals and assisting patients with walking. Then they can practice in simulation labs where robotic patients allow them to get hands-on training with tasks like taking blood or administering medications, said Rebecka Sayne-Meyer, Simulation Director.
“Simulation gives a safe environment to practice and a safe environment to make mistakes. When we finish the simulation, we talk through what they did and why, the steps, processes, and how could we do this better next time. It’s a place to be safe and make clinical decisions, with low stakes,” Sayne-Meyer said.
The classrooms also mirror patient rooms in the Reid Health system, down to the electronic health record system as part of a partnership between Ivy Tech and Reid.
They’re training in our environment, so they are far more comfortable when they come to Reid, and transition to nursing with us.
– Misti Foust-Cofield, VP/CNO at Reid Health.
Reid staff also use the simulation lab for their own training, allowing them to stay up to date on skills and be ready for whatever patients need when they come in, she said.
“When you’re not having experiences until you get to the hospital, there is chance, for example, to only get experience with chest tube when we have it, but with simulation, we
can recreate the scenario multiple times, so staff are able to do it with confidence,” Foust-Cofield said.
Similar partnerships have been formed at Ivy Tech campuses across the state with the goal of preparing students to start their career and fulfill local workforce needs, Gonser said.
For students, the Ivy Tech experience is one that truly prepares you for the future, said Chineze Odeluga, a Lake County Spring 2025 graduate.
Odeluga, an international student from Nigeria, had been considering four-year institutions, but chose Ivy Tech because she wanted to jumpstart her career and begin helping people. She credits her Ivy Tech education with preparing her to pass the NCLEX on her first try.
“They gave me all the tools I needed to succeed,” she said.
She plans to continue her education to become a nurse practitioner, and see where that takes her next.
“Wherever is in need of service, I am ready to serve,” she said.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
