Stimulus Funding to Update Patient Simulation Center at School of Nursing

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo School of Nursing has received a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant of $297,491 to fund enhancements within its Patient Simulation Center (PSC).

The PSC of the Nurse Anesthetist Program enables UB nursing students to practice patient care in a simulated operating room, using a full-body, computer-controlled mannequin and advanced patient monitoring and anesthesia delivery technologies.

The grant will be used to update and expand the PSC's simulation training capabilities, according to Thomas E. Obst, PhD, CRNA, and director of the UB Nurse Anesthesia Program.

It will fund the replacement of the current patient simulator, anesthesia gas machine and surgical table, and expand the PSC's training capabilities by the addition of a pediatric anesthesia simulator, fiber optic airway management equipment, ultrasonic imaging equipment and a range of surgical equipment.

"These enhancements and expansion of our center's capabilities will allow us to provide high-fidelity simulation training in anesthesia crisis management in an environment and with technologies that reflect the latest in best practices," said Obst.

In addition to being a site for teaching UB nurse anesthetist graduate students, the PSC provides basic and advanced training in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and acute management of rare or critical events for clinicians from multiple disciplines.

The center was created in 1997 and is located in Wende Hall on UB's South Campus. A $7.1 million renovation of Wende Hall was completed this year, transforming the historic building into a user-friendly, energy-efficient and dynamic setting for 21st century nursing education. The facility includes state-of-the-art classrooms, instructional laboratories and research space for UB's School of Nursing.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.