Skinner School of Nursing

We recently had the opportunity to visit the Skinner School of Nursing for a tour of the facilities.  Our main focus of concentration was seeing the Simulation Laboratories, and we were escorted by Helene Cunningham, the director of the Sim Labs in the Nursing building.

The School of Nursing has been a part of the UMass Amherst community since 1953.  We currently have bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs available.  A primary focus of the curriculum includes hands-on experience.  This is reflected in the Simulation Labs available on campus, along with the significant clinical affiliations students obtain prior to their graduation.  Clinical locations can include: hospitals, extended care facilities, ambulatory care clinics, schools, senior centers, day programs, and correctional facilities.  These clinical locations can be found in Massachusetts and throughout New England.

The Skinner School of nursing was officially dedicated on October 2, 2009 and its offerings are truly state-of-the-art!  The building houses multiple offices, classrooms, an amphitheater and student workspaces, in addition to the multiple Simulation Labs (five, to be exact).

There are five simulation rooms with control booths and one-way mirrors.  The room is setup like a hospital room, complete with bed, monitors, IV poles and medical equipment.  Professors have the ability to control the "Sim Men," and can adjust their heart rate, breathing and other items.  Professors will implement various case studies for Nursing students, that get more challenging as the semester advances.  Students must properly diagnose and treat the "Sim Men."  These technologically advanced patients have heart beats, breath, can receive injections, etc.  A video tour of the Clinical Simulation Lab can located through this link.  More pictures of the labs and School of Nursing can be found on the slideshow at the bottom of the blog!