SUNY Empire Receives $80,000 for High-Needs Nursing Simulation

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - July 14, 2023) The State University of New York recently awarded Empire State University $80,000 in funding to support high-needs nursing simulation. To help address the nursing workforce shortage, and the need to increase the number of qualified nurses entering the field as soon as possible, the focus of these simulation efforts will be on undergraduate nursing enrollment.

Campuses awarded funding must submit their plan on how they will use the funding by September 1 of this year. Allowable uses include:

• Faculty and staff simulation training
• Manikins: task trainers, birthing manikins, high fidelity manikins
• Simulator equipment
• Medical equipment
• Audiovisual equipment
• Sensory props
• VR augmented reality equipment and software
• Updates and repair of current equipment
• Partnership opportunities with campuses that have existing simulation spaces

After intensive SUNY advocacy and collaboration with others, legislation to address New York’s nursing shortage was passed in both Legislative houses and signed into law by Governor Hochul on May 15, 2023. The new law permits nursing students to complete up to one-third of their clinical training through quality simulation experiences.

This will align New York’s standards for nursing students with 31 other states that provide simulated clinical experiences for nursing education. The simulated experiences are subject to rigorous standards, oversight, and approval by the New York State Department of Education.

The State Education Department (SED) will be promulgating regulations to define the requirements for quality simulation in the coming months. To begin to leverage this opportunity to expand the number of nurses SUNY can train, significant investments in simulation will be required.

School of Nursing and Allied Health Dean Kim Stote said, “We at the School of Nursing and Allied Health are honored to receive SUNY high needs funding for simulation. The grant will help to bolster simulation experiences in undergraduate and graduate nursing courses. SUNY has worked diligently on measures to address the healthcare workforce shortages in New York state.”