Stony Brook University, along with two other State University of New York (SUNY) campuses, has been selected to host new nursing simulation centers. This development is part of an initiative set by Governor Kathy Hochul to enhance simulation-based education within SUNY’s nursing programs, aimed at addressing healthcare workforce shortages.
A total of $62 million will be invested, including $35 million in direct SUNY capital awards, with the balance coming from campus matches. The allocated funds will establish nursing simulation centers at Stony Brook University, the University at Buffalo, and SUNY Canton.
“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,” said Governor Hochul. She emphasized the significance of these centers in improving student preparation and strengthening the talent pool within SUNY and beyond.
Stony Brook and SUNY Canton have been recognized as Regional Nursing Simulation Centers, serving the Long Island and North Country regions, respectively. The University at Buffalo will serve as a SUNY System-Wide Nursing Simulation Center of Excellence, designed as a hub for simulation-based education and innovation.
“SUNY is committed to strengthening New York’s healthcare workforce,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr., highlighting the importance of this investment. He acknowledged the law established in 2023, which supports utilizing simulation in nursing education as a means to address workforce shortages and changing healthcare requirements.
The selected campuses will focus on hands-on training for critical clinical areas like labor and delivery, high acuity cases, and community health. Each institution is committed to increasing prelicensure nursing program enrollment, utilizing legislation permitting up to a third of clinical training through quality simulation experiences approved in 2023.
At Stony Brook University, the regional simulation center is expected to result in a 19 percent increase in first-year prelicensure nursing enrollment once completed, projecting a 27 percent growth over five years. The university will expand its space for simulations and employ advanced technology for remote learning across Long Island.
“We are grateful to Governor Hochul, SUNY, and Stony Brook University for this opportunity to expand and enhance nursing education through simulation-based learning,” stated Patricia Bruckenthal, Dean of the Stony Brook University School of Nursing. She underscored the commitment to innovation and collaboration in advancing nursing education.
William A. Wertheim, MD, Executive Vice President for Stony Brook Medicine, remarked on the university’s role in healthcare education, stating, “As Suffolk County’s only academic medical center, Stony Brook University is proud to be at the forefront of healthcare education and workforce development.”
The initiative supports SUNY’s strategy, developed by the SUNY Future of Health Care Workforce Task Force, to address healthcare service staffing shortages. The task force identified nursing simulation as a priority for action and investment. With the new centers, it is anticipated that several hundred new prelicensure nursing students will enroll annually, increasing training opportunities at SUNY campuses across New York.
