Nursing Simulation Center

Before nursing students ever step into a real clinical setting, they face realistic patient scenarios right here on campus. The APSU Nursing Simulation Center gives students hands-on experience with patient conditions, treatments, and medications in a controlled environment where the stakes are high enough to learn from — but safe enough to make mistakes.

APSU Emergency-Response Simulation 2026

Students from multiple disciplines collaborate during a realistic mass-casualty event requiring emergency response, communication, patient triage, imaging, laboratory coordination, and psychosocial support.

A Safe Place to Make Mistakes

The Center operates under the Basic Assumption (Center for Medical Simulation, 2004): every participant is intelligent, capable, cares about doing their best, and wants to improve. Simulation isn't a test — it's a tool for growth.

"This is where learning can become real before it becomes permanent."

All activities at the Center are also guided by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare Simulation Code of Ethics.

Learning Across Disciplines

Real emergencies don't respect professional boundaries. The Center's most immersive simulations bring together students from multiple disciplines to experience that reality firsthand — practicing the handoffs, communication, and decision-making under pressure that patient care demands. Students learn with and from other disciplines, not just alongside them.

"We are training future professionals who run towards hurt, not away from it."

This interprofessional approach reflects the Center's core commitment: preparing graduates who are ready to step up and serve when their communities need them most.

Mission and Vision

Nursing student works with simulation lab equipment.

Mission

Provide learners with a safe, interactive simulation-based educational experience that promotes interprofessional collaboration, evidence-based practice, and nursing excellence.

Vision

Create a regionally recognized simulation center that will improve patient outcomes in the community and beyond.

What Students Say

Student rushing a simulation participant to the ambulance on a stretcher.

APSU Student

I loved it. I needed to be challenged even though I was nervous.

APSU Nursing Student

I feel more confident in my abilities after this simulation.

Students during simulation reviewing chart for patient

Nursing Student

This simulation was beneficial and more realistic than what I expected.