BCC Wins $350,000 Grant for Nursing Simulation (SIM) Equipment Upgrade

Berkshire Community College (BCC) has been awarded a $350,000 grant to acquire new simulation (SIM) equipment for its nursing programs, allowing for the first substantive upgrade of such equipment since 2009. The grant was provided by state Community Project Funding secured by Congressman Richard Neal. 

SIM labs are designed to mimic various healthcare settings such as emergency rooms, hospital rooms, labor and delivery rooms and operating theaters to fully immerse students in the clinical experience. The labs are furnished with mannequins and a full suite of medical equipment.  

Through the acquisition of upgraded SIM equipment, BCC will work with area healthcare providers to strengthen the educational and hands-on training opportunities for students enrolled in Nursing and Allied Health degree and certificate programs. The integration of updated technology into healthcare education will give BCC students and healthcare personnel access to state-of-the-art clinical education not available in traditional learning formats. 

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There are so many studies that support the implementation of simulation experiences into nursing education,” said BCC Dean of Nursing Lori Moon. "Simulation enables students to practice clinical decision-making skills in a protected environment while enhancing students’ confidence, promoting patient safety and making the connection between theory and nursing practice."  

“We are so excited to add to the state-of-the-art, high-fidelity simulation equipment we already have in place in our SIM lab,” Moon said.  

New equipment will include newborn, pediatric and adult models, patient monitors, wound care kits and accompanying software, an Electronic Medical Record program, an Omnicell Medication Dispenser and crash carts — all designed to prepare nursing students for what they will experience in a clinical setting.  

BCC has offered a thriving Associate Degree in Nursing program since 1969. The College also offers a one-year Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Certificate program and collaborates with UMass Amherst to offer a bachelor of science degree in nursing. A partnership with BCC, Berkshire Health Systems (BHS), BHS affiliates and others — including Berkshire Place, Mount Carmel Care Center and Lee HealthCare — provides clinical training and employment opportunities for graduates. BCC also works with BHS to offer a 90-hour Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program several times annually.