Stony Brook University School of Nursing has been named one of three State University of New York (SUNY) Regional Nursing Simulation Centers. This announcement was made by Governor Kathy Hochul as part of a $62 million initiative to enhance nursing education across New York State.
Stony Brook will receive $10 million from SUNY, complemented by $10.5 million in matching funds from the university itself. These funds will be allocated towards creating a new simulation center at Stony Brook, equipped with state-of-the-art technologies to improve nursing training and education.
The selected campuses include the University of Buffalo, designated as the SUNY System-Wide Nursing Simulation Center of Excellence, along with SUNY Canton and Stony Brook as regional centers. These centers aim to provide hands-on training in critical clinical practice areas such as labor and delivery, high acuity cases, and community health.
According to the Governor’s office, this investment aligns with legislation signed by Governor Hochul in May 2023, allowing nursing students to complete up to one-third of their clinical training through simulation experiences. “By investing in nurses of the future, we’re investing in the talent of aspiring professionals across our state and in the health care workforce we all rely on,” stated Governor Hochul.
Dr. William A. Wertheim, Executive Vice President for Stony Brook Medicine, expressed pride in Stony Brook’s role as Suffolk County’s only academic medical center: “This designation as a SUNY Regional Nursing Simulation Center reflects our long-standing commitment to preparing the next generation of nurses.”
The new center at Stony Brook is expected to support a 19 percent increase in prelicensure nursing enrollment within a year after project completion and a projected 27 percent increase over five years.
Dr. Patricia Bruckenthal, Dean of the Stony Brook School of Nursing, highlighted the significance: “Our NEXUS Innovation Center epitomizes our commitment to advancing nursing education through innovation and collaboration.”
Stony Brook plans to expand its simulation space footprint significantly and utilize advanced simulcast software technology for remote learning opportunities across Long Island.
Currently integrated into every clinical course at Stony Brook’s School of Nursing is simulation-based curriculum. The new dedicated center aims to streamline this process by expanding space and resources available for student training.
This initiative builds on previous efforts by SUNY to enhance nursing education through simulation-based learning. Last October, SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. announced an inaugural class for the SUNY Nursing Simulation Fellowship program.
For more details about New York State’s investment in nursing education and simulation training, refer to Governor Hochul’s press release.
