Schwartz Lab achieves the Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement™
Why UIC Nursing was selected to receive the Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement
The UIC College of Nursing Schwartz Simulation Lab has become the only nursing simulation program in Illinois to receive the Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement™ from the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL).
This three-year recognition highlights the dedication to excellence in healthcare simulation practices in the M. Christine Schwartz Experiential Learning & Simulation Laboratory, located at UIC Nursing’s Chicago campus.
“We’re thrilled to receive this prestigious recognition,” says Katie Vanderzwan, DNP ’17, MSN ’06, director of the Schwartz Lab. “It signifies our commitment to ensuring that every simulation activity is thoughtfully designed to meet educational goals, while adhering to best practices that promote safety, reliability, and measurable outcomes.”
The endorsement is designed to recognize health care institutions that have demonstrated excellence in applying all four of the following simulation standards from the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice® in their educational simulation programs: prebriefing, facilitation, professional integrity and debriefing.
The endorsement publicly recognizes institutions that excel in creating simulation experiences that enhance learning, promote professional development and advance the science of simulation.
Launched with a generous $5 million donation from the alumna Christine Schwartz, BSN ’70, the state-of-the-art Schwartz Lab opened in August 2019. A $1 million gift from Nita and Phil Francis allowed the college to construct a birthing suite with high-fidelity manikins and an attached control room.
The lab features 15,000 square feet of teaching and learning space, including a simulated ER, exam rooms, a home health apartment, a team-based learning classroom and more. The highly realistic learning environment allows students to hone their clinical skills in a low-stakes environment