Washington State University’s College of Nursing recorded 1,415 hours of simulation across Spokane and Tri-Cities during fall 2025 and spring 2026. During this year’s Healthcare Simulation Week (Sept. 14-18), the college recognizes the Center for Experiential Learning’s simulation and practice lab staff and nursing faculty who support these experiences and help students prepare for patient care.
The hours reflect learning opportunities supported by a team whose contributions also earned Department/Group Excellence recognition at the 2025 Chancellor’s Excellence Awards.
From scheduled simulation scenarios to additional practice in open labs, the team supports experiential learning throughout students’ progression through the nursing curriculum.
Supporting simulation and skills practice
Simulation gives nursing students opportunities to apply classroom learning in clinical scenarios. These experiences provide a setting to practice skills and decision-making as students prepare for patient care.
During fall 2025 and spring 2026, Spokane recorded 1,112 hours of simulation, and Tri-Cities recorded 303 hours. The Center for Experiential Learning’s report documents simulation activity in courses spanning students’ junior and senior years.
Students also recorded 8,403 hours of open lab practice across the two locations: 6,227 hours in Spokane and 2,176 hours in Tri-Cities. Open labs provide opportunities to revisit techniques and spend additional time developing nursing skills.
Simulation and practice lab staff and nursing faculty support these experiences, helping students connect what they learn in the classroom with what they do in practice.
Recognizing a shared commitment to nursing education
The Center for Experiential Learning received Department/Group Excellence recognition at the 2025 Chancellor’s Excellence Awards. The college’s feature on the award recipients highlighted the team’s collaboration, innovation, and contributions to preparing future nurses through hands-on training, simulation, and skill development.
The award recognized a collective effort. The reported simulation and open lab hours offer another view of that work, showing the scale of learning activity the team supports.
During Healthcare Simulation Week, the College of Nursing thanks its simulation and practice lab staff and nursing faculty for making these experiences possible and supporting the development of future Coug Nurses.