Passan School of Nursing Awarded $750,000 for Simulation Center

The Passan School of Nursing was recently awarded $750,000 through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) to support a new, state-of-the-art nursing simulation center in Stark Learning Center. The reimagined facility will provide nursing students with additional opportunities for hands-on experience using the latest technologies to meet the needs of an ever-changing healthcare environment.

“All healthcare facilities continue to struggle with nursing shortages,” says Deborah Zbegner, dean of the College of Health and Education. “Receiving this funding is essential for modernizing the simulation center which takes our nursing program to a higher level.”

In addition to immersive simulations with hyper-realistic manikins, students will have access to expanded spaces for standardized patient scenarios. With greater capacity, the center will also be able to serve the educational needs of community members such as first responders and healthcare professionals.

The RACP is a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget for the design, acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects.

“We are grateful that, in a very competitive round of RACP funding, the governor’s office and our legislative delegation saw the value in our desire to expand our nursing simulation center,” says Mike Wood, special assistant to the president in external affairs. “We’d like to extend a special thanks to Representative Eddie Day Pashinski ’67 for his ongoing support.”

Additionally, this grant will continue to assist the nursing program as students prepare for the National Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Wilkes consistently produces graduates with pass rates above the national average and is committed to meeting the demands of a changing healthcare environment through well-trained, qualified nurses.

“The future of nursing depends on our incoming and current students to prepare competent professional nurses who will achieve licensure and enter the workforce ready to meet the healthcare challenges facing today’s society,” says Zbegner.

The funds awarded from the RACP grant will be combined with other gifts, grants and institutional funds to expand nursing education capabilities on campus.