JCC Expands Nursing Simulation Lab and Enrollment Capacity

The nursing program simulation lab at Jefferson Community College (JCC) has two new additions - Nursing Anne and a birthing mom - bringing the total number of life-like manikins to four and the overall number of manikins to 11. The simulation equipment was purchased with $100,000 in grant funding from the State and Municipal (SAM) Facilities Program of the Dormitory Authority of the State University of New York (DASNY). The DASNY funding was secured for Jefferson by NYS Senator Patty Ritchie, District 48, to expand the College’s capacity for hands-on simulation training and consequently increase enrollment capacity in the program that prepares students to become registered nurses (RNs).

Prior to receiving the DASNY Grant, enrollment in JCC’s traditional nursing program was capped at 48 students. 

“The DASNY grant gave us the ability to purchase two simulation manikins and create an entire birthing suite on campus,” said Dr. Marie A. Hess, Interim Nursing Department Chair. “As a result, Jefferson is capable of offering more nursing labs and accommodating additional students.”

This fall, Jefferson will admit 64 nursing students. 

“Now more than ever, the health care field is in need of new nurses,” said State Senator Patty Ritchie. “I am pleased to have been able to secure these funds, which will allow JCC’s nursing program to provide nursing students with the hands-on experience they require, as well as enable the college to expand its class sizes. JCC consistently gets high marks for the quality of its nursing program and I’m confident this new equipment will help better prepare students for using their passion and talents to make a difference in the lives of the patients they will serve in the future."

JCC’s new nursing program manikins are made with soft material and convey life-like characteristics such as speaking, eye movement and visible chest movement. Additionally, they are electronically equipped with six audible heart pulses, lung sounds and blood pressure readings. The birthing mom simulates all stages of labor from antepartum to postpartum and delivers a manikin baby.  

 Dr. Hess said, “This grant allowed the Nursing Program at JCC to significantly enhance our ability to bring state-of-the-art high fidelity manikins to our lab for students’ practice. Nursing Anne and the birthing mom are great enhancements for simulations and teaching students clinical judgment for patient care.”

The new equipment was installed midway through the spring 2022 semester and instructors received training on the state-of-the-art equipment in March. Students began labs with Nursing Anne and the birthing mom in April. The timing proved to be fortuitous as in May 2022, JCC was a co-recipient, with SUNY Polytechnic Institute, of a $250,000 SUNY award aimed at strengthening the registered nursing (RN) pipeline, improving graduate retention rates in the RN and BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) programs, and developing a seamless pathway for RNs to pursue BSN, MSN (Master of Science in Nursing), and DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) programs at SUNY Poly. The grant was part of $3.2 million investment from SUNY to create 1,500 more spots for nursing students. 

Dr. Hess said, “The nursing shortage in New York continues to be a high priority issue. Serving additional students and graduating more highly prepared nurses will certainly help to alleviate some of the shortage in our region.”

Learn more about JCC’s nursing program and transfer opportunities.