Simulation at UIC Nursing
Introduction
Simulation in nursing education provides a safe, controlled environment where students can develop clinical skills, critical thinking, and decision-making without any risk to patient safety. By placing students in realistic patient scenarios, simulation bridges the gap between theory and practice, allowing learners to apply knowledge, make mistakes, and reflect on their actions in real time under the guidance of specially trained faculty. It also fosters teamwork, communication and confidence, which are essential in fast-moving, high-stakes health care settings. In short, simulation enhances student capability and preparedness, improving patient and provider experiences.
The Schwartz Lab
UIC Nursing’s Chicago campus is home to the $16.1 million, 30,000-sq-ft M. Christine Schwartz Experiential Learning & Simulation Laboratory. The first half of the lab opened in 2019, and second half opened in fall of 2026. The Schwartz Lab is among the largest and most sophisticated at any U.S. nursing school.
In December 2025, the Schwartz Lab became the first nursing simulation program in Illinois to receive the Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement™ from the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning. This three-year recognition is conferred only to institutions that excel in creating simulation experiences that enhance learning and advance the science of simulation.
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