University of Phoenix Launches Next Generation of Nursing Education Through Immersive Learning Center

University of Phoenix Launches Next Generation of Nursing Education Through
Immersive Learning Center
University to Celebrate October 29 Grand Opening of Innovative Phoenix Nursing
Center

PHOENIX, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- A patient with late-stage pancreatic cancer
is refusing anti-depression medication and has signed a Do Not Resuscitate
order against his family's wishes. The family is frantic at the patient's
bedside, and patients in nearby beds are becoming alarmed and agitated. The
nurse overseeing this patient's care has a dilemma on her hands that has
nothing to do with providing basic nursing skills.

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This is a typical day in University of Phoenix's new immersive learning
nursing center, with practical scenarios designed by a "brain trust" of
University of Phoenix nursing faculty in what has become the next generation
of nursing education.

University of Phoenix will debut its immersive learning center featuring
state-of-the-art wireless high-fidelity SIM Man 3G "patient" mannequins that
cry, talk, sweat, cough and breathe; and a high-fidelity baby that reacts
astonishingly similar to its live counterpart, at a private reception and
grand opening on Thursday, Oct. 29, across from its Elwood Street campus in
Phoenix.

The 4,100-square-foot Phoenix center will be the first of several
high-fidelity, immersive nursing centers the University is planning to roll
out at campuses throughout the United States, with pending expansion plans
that include the University's Modesto, Calif.; Denver and Honolulu, Hawaii
locations. University of Phoenix invested more than $400,000 to renovate and
equip the Phoenix nursing center with the latest technology and resources that
consist of a high-tech control room for a lab technician and faculty
facilitator to program the high-fidelity mannequins; fully equipped,
simulated-reality hospital room with four beds and patient monitors, a
procedure room with two high-fidelity mannequins wired for live and recorded
video monitoring, an observation and debriefing room for playing back recorded
video, computer lab with 12 stations, and traditional classroom and conference
space.

The University is introducing the immersive learning program in its LPN to BSN
degree program, with plans to integrate it into other nursing degree programs.
Faculty facilitators are highly trained on the immersive learning approach
beyond the University's standard requisites for teaching. Their rigorous
training includes 16 hours of clinical instruction, 8 hours of mentoring and a
minimum of 16 hours of prior supervised teaching in a practical learning
environment before they facilitate their first learning experience with
nursing students.

Immersive learning and the use of simulation labs are valuable tools to train
students in the skills and tasks they'll use in their future nursing
profession. A learning experience in a simulated clinical environment that
mirrors the students' real-world clinical or hospital rotation provides a
safe, non-life-threatening atmosphere in which to make mistakes, learn from
those mistakes, and ultimately results in improved risk management because of
the student's higher quality of care and immersive training.

"What makes University of Phoenix's immersive learning environment different
is that our nursing students are putting both their clinical and critical
thinking skills to work," said Pam Fuller, dean of the University's College of
Nursing. "In short, they are assessing a patient's condition, prioritizing
their responsibilities and actions, communicating what needs to be done, and
then acting on the conclusions they draw from the situation at hand."

Tracy Chesney, director of nursing, University of Phoenix College of Nursing,
agrees that the critical thinking skills are just as important as the clinical
skills training for students. She cites research that indicates that more than
72 percent of patient errors that occur in a clinical setting are related to
communication and assessment skills rather than their proficiency in physical,
task-oriented skills.

In order to get its nursing students to achieve this higher level of critical
thinking, University of Phoenix's "brain trust," a leadership team of medical
professionals from every facet of nursing and from its campuses nationwide,
developed more than two dozen "scenarios" that are played out daily in the
immersive learning center. Scenarios may involve the SIM Man 3G mannequin,
high-fidelity baby or other "patients" to engage students in an array of
medical and behavioral situations that encompass nursing specialty areas, such
as acute medical-surgical, obstetrics, pediatrics, community health, maternity
and family issues and leadership.

Chesney notes that the most important learning comes after students have
participated in one of the scenarios. They join faculty and fellow students in
the observation/debriefing room to review their actions -- and reactions -- to
a particular situation and assess the outcome.

"Usually, our faculty don't need to say a word; our nursing students already
have determined how they could improve their response to each scenario,"
Chesney said. "That's very important to this process. It allows the students
to formulate their own conclusions and solutions. The immersive learning
augments what students are doing in their real-life clinical rotations and
helps them become better thinkers, and ultimately, better nurses."

About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help students balance
education and life in a rapidly changing world. Through flexible schedules,
challenging courses and interactive learning, students achieve personal and
career aspirations without putting their lives on hold. During the quarter
ending August 31, 2009, 443,000 students were enrolled at University of
Phoenix, the largest private university in North America. University of
Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate's, bachelor's,
master's, and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers
across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world.

SOURCE University of Phoenix

Manny Rivera, Director of Public Affairs of University of Phoenix,
+1-602-557-1427, manny.rivera@apollogrp.edu