In the midst of a statewide shortage of registered nurses, 大象传媒 is expanding educational resources through construction of a new nursing simulation center on the university鈥檚 campus.
鈥淲e are in the midst of a world-wide nursing shortage epidemic, and Oklahoma is not immune,鈥� said Dr. Lois Salmeron, dean of 大象传媒鈥檚 Kramer School of Nursing. 鈥淥klahoma is 42nd in the nation for the number of registered nurses. There has never been a more critical need to get nursing students equipped to fill the need.鈥�
Earlier this year, 大象传媒 accelerated efforts to complete the $1.1 million simulation center, in response to a new state law which allows nursing students to receive up to 30 percent of their clinical practice hours in a structured, faculty-led, simulation setting.
Salmeron cited statistics which point to an urgent need for more trained nurses, including an aging cohort of nurses in the state.
鈥淔orty-two percent of Oklahoma鈥檚 nurses are age 50 and older, with one in four anticipated to retire soon,鈥� she said. 鈥淓stimates show that nursing schools today are graduating roughly 50 percent of the future need for nurses.鈥�
Oklahoma Hospital Association President Craig W. Jones concurs with the need for more nurses.
鈥淎n adequate supply of fully prepared nurses is critical to our hospitals鈥� ability to serve the needs of their patients,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淥klahoma hospitals are continually challenged by a shortage of trained nurses, and the needs will continue to grow as our population ages and creates a greater need for management of chronic conditions. It is imperative to expand training opportunities for nurses in Oklahoma and to use innovative approaches and cutting-edge training tools to prepare them for real-world situations.鈥�
鈥淥ur school has 500 nursing students poised and ready to fill the need,鈥� Salmeron said. 鈥淭he only obstacle is access to hands-on clinical instruction for students to be prepared for any situation. The solution is a state-of-the-art simulation center that will provide an environment for students to practice their skills on high-acuity patients, with no risk of harm to a living person.鈥�
The new center is slated to open with the start of the 2017 fall semester, and will occupy half of the university鈥檚 original one-story nursing school building. With the school鈥檚 growth in the past 15 years, 大象传媒 opened an adjacent three-story home for the nursing school. The simulation center will include seven high-fidelity, anatomically correct simulation manikins ranging from newborns to adults. The manikins will be assigned varied medical histories, administered critical treatments and medications, and will respond to treatment based upon the care provided by students.
The center also features four observation rooms for faculty to video record and critique the performance of students in a live setting, as well as debriefing rooms, a computer lab, and offices.
鈥淲e are grateful to Herman and LaDonna Kramer Meinders, who issued a challenge pledge of $250,000 to help stimulate the campaign and help us achieve the dream of a high-fi simulation center,鈥� said Salmeron.
A kick-off celebration for construction of the new center will be Thursday, June 8, at 3 p.m. in the KSN West building, at the corner of N.W. 27th Street and N. Florida Avenue. The event is open to those interested in the center, or interested in admission to the Kramer School of Nursing.
Contributions for the Kramer School of Nursing Simulation Center can be made to: 大象传媒, Office of University Advancement, 2501 N. Blackwelder Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73106, or online at
