The Schwartz Simulation Lab
The college's $6.1 million M. Christine Schwartz Experiential Learning & Simulation Laboratory is among the largest at any U.S. nursing school.
The UIC College of Nursing is home to a state-of-the-art simulation lab that opened in August 2019 at the main campus in Chicago. Launched by a generous $5 million donation from the alumna whose name it bears, the M. Christine Schwartz Experiential Learning & Simulation Laboratory features 15,000 square feet of teaching and learning space, all designed with students in mind.
Finished with a $1 million gift from Nita and Phil Francis, the robust Schwartz Lab provides a highly realistic—but safely low-risk— environment for students to practice skills, react to changes in their patients and the environment, problem-solve and think critically.
Importantly, the Schwartz Simulation Lab has a comprehensive audio/visual recording and center-management system provided by Elevate Healthcare.
Located in the Chicago Campus building, the lab features:
Located in the Chicago Campus building, the lab features:
Nita & Phil Francis Family Birthing Suite
The birthing suite enables students to develop their clinical skills related to labor and delivery with the use of high-tech, high-fidelity manikins such as Laerdal’s SimMom™ and SimBaby™. From a control room behind a one-way glass, instructors view and record students at work while operating the voices and physiological responses of the manikins. Later, the students review their recorded simulations with instructors and peers.
Simulated ER
Our second largest simulation room is primarily used as an emergency room. Students at all levels have the opportunity to view telemetry, access a crash cart, and participate in escape room simulations.
Main Lab
A skills lab is fully equipped with 10 hospital beds, including head wall units, as well as lecture space—all to help students develop foundational nursing skills.
Exam Rooms
Each of five outpatient exam include an exam table as well as diagnostic and physical examination equipment.
Home Health Apartment
A fully furnished living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom allow students to practice skills for caring for patients across the life span in the home. Like other spaces throughout the learning lab, this model apartment is equipped with a control room from which instructors can assess students’ simulation.
Mental Health Suite
A peaceful setting furnished and arranged for comfortable conversation, the mental health room is also equipped with a control room from which instructors can assess students’ simulation.
Flex Simulation Rooms
Four simulation rooms are used to emulate a variety of environments in which students are able to develop their assessment, critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills. Rooms can be equipped with a manikin or actor (called a “standardized patient”) to simulate pediatric, medical/surgical, ICU, geriatric scenarios and more. Each is equipped with a control room from which instructors can assess the students’ simulation.
Debriefing Rooms
Two debriefing rooms allow live-streaming of simulation experiences so that peers can observe and learn from one another. Students also gather in these room with their faculty facilitators for group debriefing.
Team-Based-Learning Classroom
The TBL classroom for 75 students has grouped seating. Students can work in small teams at tables equipped with flat screens on which they can share completed work with the whole class.
Student Study Lounge
Cozy furniture, work spaces and charging outlets in this lounge provide our students with necessary tools for success.
Student-Centered Design
From hallway nooks, to a “living wall,” to a meditation room and lactation room, the Schwartz Lab was designed with students in mind.