As the American Association of Colleges of Nursing is concerned with the lack of nursing program enrollment, one local school for nurses is making interesting strides in their own program. BJC Goldfarb School of Nursing saw 110 students graduate from their nursing program this month and the students loved the new technology used in their learning.

What You Need To Know

  • BJC Goldfarb School of Nursing students are using VR for learning numerous procedures

  • The patient simulator affords students the chance to interact with a multitude of patients of various backgrounds

  • Faculty and staff designed various scenarios

Goldfarb School of Nursing is using a clinical simulation suites that were renovated in Spring 2023. Using artificial intelligence and virtual reality, aspiring nurses practice patient interaction, taking vital signs, delivering babies, provide CPR, and more. A spokesperson with BJC said students desire to be immersed in technology and the suites provide them experiences they may not otherwise receive. 

In the OB birthing suite, students wear high-tech goggles that show them a hologram of the birthing patient simulator and the baby. They can see structures and the baby inside the mother as they deliver the infant. The baby makes realistic facial expression and can even cry. 

Other suites include individual hospital rooms, exam rooms, an operating room and lab. According to Goldfarb, "Goldfarb is currently expanding VR into additional courses where it may be more challenging to get the needed clinical exposure, such as Psych, Population Health, and Emergency Department."

Each suite has patient charting computers, diagnostic and treatment equipment, carts, hospital beds, and state-of-the-art patient simulators called “manikins.”

They “breathe, cough, cry, and speak, among other responses,” siad Laura High, the Director of Media Relations for BJC Eastern Region. “Beyond clinical care, a key goal of the Clinical Simulation Institute technology upgrade is to improve diversity and cultural awareness for students.” 

Faculty and staff come up with various scenarios for students to identify and respect different cultural needs. The Manikins include a mix of race, gender, age, and background, helping new nurses prepare for a diverse world ahead. The next term for the program is just beginning.