Hands-On Learning Prepares Future Nurses for Success

The College of Nursing's Simulation Center and state-of-the-art skills labs are located at the Interprofessional Health Sciences campus in Nutley.

Seton Hall nursing students build clinical skills and connect with future colleagues at Interprofessional Health Sciences campus.

This semester, Seton Hall nursing students put theory into practice during Immersion Days at the University's Interprofessional Health Sciences campus in Nutley, NJ. Participants from a wide range of programs at Seton Hall University's College of Nursing advanced their professional training through experiential learning opportunities aimed at enhancing their nursing skills in preparation for real-world clinical training.

What are Immersions?

Graduate students in the College of Nursing's Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) programs participate in three Immersions, in-person training sessions designed by the College to enrich the students' online academic experiences. Immersions give future nurse practitioners (NPs) hands-on opportunities to practice clinical skills, connect with faculty and classmates, and take part in career development sessions.

During Immersions, students practice the advanced nursing skills they'll be drawing upon during the 600 hours of clinical training required to become licensed nurse practitioners. Immersions include a tailored curriculum based on Seton Hall's five NP specialty tracks: Adult Gerontology-Acute Care, Adult Gerontology-Primary Care, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care and Psychiatric-Mental Health.

Emily Scheider, who is enrolled in Seton Hall's Adult Gerontology-Primary Care NP program, noted, "It's a comfortable educational environment for us to learn and grow as clinicians. We get to learn skills that would otherwise be uncomfortable to do in an outpatient setting or in our clinicals without having that prior knowledge" such as pelvic and prostate exams with standardized patients, specially trained professionals who simulate patient interactions. "Immersions allow our nurse practitioner students to bring their classroom knowledge to life," said Kathryn Sanok, M.S.N., R.N., coordinator of the Clinical Skills Lab. "Through simulation and skills lab experiences, our future NPs gain the competence and confidence they need to excel as healthcare providers."

Future nurse practitioners in Seton Hall's M.S.N. programs practiced their clinical skills in the University's state-of-the-art simulation center and skills labs.

Skills in Focus: Acute Care Training

Each Immersion builds on prior coursework and prepares students to transition into their clinical rotations. At the November 2 Immersion III event, students in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track (AGACNP) practiced advanced clinical skills including intubation, arterial and central line insertion, and EKG interpretation.

"It's learning by doing - in the safety of the classroom," said Mary Ellen Roberts, D.N.P., R.N., A.P.N.C., chair of the graduate nursing department and director of the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) program. "NP students are supervised by faculty who observe their skills and provide corrective feedback in a supportive setting."

Collaborative Learning: B.S.N. Meets M.S.N.

During the AGACNP Immersion III event, sophomores in Seton Hall's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program joined NP students to observe and assist during a simulation experience in the High-Fidelity Patient Suite, set up to mimic an acute care patient setting.

"B.S.N. students are learning how to provide and coordinate care - while our NP students are learning advanced skills such as interpreting diagnostic results and developing patient care plans," said Sanok. The simulation helps future NPs in particular to practice a healthcare role with increased responsibilities, she added.

Simulation Excellence for the 21st Century

Seton Hall's state-of-the-art simulation center is a hallmark of its nursing curriculum. In 2023, the College of Nursing, in partnership with the School of Health and Medical Sciences, secured a $1.14 million federal grant to enhance the Simulation Center's facilities.

The grant has funded technology upgrades and new equipment, further elevating the quality of Seton Hall's clinical training and ensuring that future practitioners develop the advanced skills, confidence and competence needed to excel in today's healthcare landscape.

Categories: Health and Medicine

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