Continued Excellence

In 2024, the University of South Carolina opened one of the most advanced nursing training facilities in the country, thanks to its partnership with Lexington Health. Now, the College of Nursing's Center for Simulation and Experiential Learning (SAEL) has further expanded what it has to offer to nursing students.

Made possible by a recent $3 million HRSA grant, this fall, USC Nursing introduced the newest and best technologies available while increasing student training capacity simultaneously. These innovations come at a critical time as the college continues to meet the Palmetto State's nursing demands. These upgrades will dramatically expand clinical scenarios and support students before they enter the nursing workforce.

3D anatomy

A new standout includes the Anatomage Table, a state-of-the-art interactive digital cadaver lab scanned from body donations enabling students to study the human body in 3D. The seven-foot table can lay flat or stand upright, turning into a versatile teaching tool for classroom demonstrations, small-group studies and VR simulation experiences. Using it's touchscreen, students can study each layer of tissue and trace organ systems to gain a better understanding of the human body that traditional models cannot provide.

Assistant Professor Sarah Clement recently used the table during Med Surg II to demonstrate how electrical impulses travel through the heart and various types of heart blocks - complex topics nursing students typically struggle to grasp. Clement says, “By using this new table, students could see the precise location and effect of each cardiac conduction delay in 3D, which helped them connect theory to visual understanding in a way textbooks alone cannot achieve.” 

Patient Care Simulation

The Center upgraded its high-fidelity manikin collection with five additional male and female full high-fidelity adult nursing manikins, two new high-fidelity birthing patient manikins and two pediatric high-fidelity manikins. These new manikins offer advanced skills training with features like chest rise, nasogastric tubes (NG), central lines, pulses, chest rise intubation, catheters, CPR shock and the ability for instructors to speak through the manikin.

With the grant funding, the college also added: 

• 12 mid-fidelity manikins used specifically for skills related teaching.
• Four end-of-life care manikins for palliative and hospice care scenarios.
• Two AI powered manikins programmed specifically to engage in full conversations with students to strengthen their communication and assessment skills.

Hybrid and Specialized Simulators

Wearable simulators are technology systems designed for simulated patients (SP) and offer realistic complex scenarios with human variability. The simulators help students improve patient communication during clinical simulations before entering the workforce. Now, the college has access to wearable simulated equipment such as a birthing device, a tracheostomy simulator, wounds and IVs. 

Task trainers are realistic anatomy of specific body parts specifically designed for students to obtain repeated hands-on practice opportunities. The college acquired 12 new IV arms, 12 catheter trainers, four NG trainers and four tracheostomy trainers to enhance skills related instruction. 

Ultrasound technology

Ultrasound devices are integrated nursing tools that can support expedited patient care. Maggie Selph, Interim Director of the Nursing Education Program and associate professor,  explains how these tools can enhance graduate student curriculum.

“Our program is now able to routinely integrate ultrasound clinical learning activities for all our Nurse Practitioner students, which is especially valuable for providers who see patients in rural settings where timely access to care can be limited. By educating future NPs to perform bedside ultrasound, we are equipping providers to use real-time imaging to support more accurate diagnosis and more efficient care.”

New learning activities ensure all USC Nurse Practitioner students will gain exposure to advanced ultrasound technologies,  practicing full-scope use and mastering advanced techniques. The college's NP students will use handheld devices that can also be used with tablets or phones to perform scans on SPs and new ultrasound task trainers in real time so they are prepared to use them in a clinical setting. These new devices, which can support up to 30 ultrasounds simultaneously, allow the students to practice and learn advanced techniques. Additionally, our certified Nurse-Midwifery program was able to incorporate a new pregnant ultrasound task trainer into its curriculum. 

Hospital-Grade Equipment

USC Nursing also heavily invested in revolutionary equipment that mirrors real world clinical settings. This includes two new Pyxis medication dispensing machines, replicating the systems nurses encounter daily in hospitals. Students will also train on 38 new hospital beds, including a birthing bed and 13 Hercules lift-assist beds, along with ceiling lifts and a wheelchair scale, providing hands-on experience with the same tools used in patient care facilities. More upgrades include four new ADA-compliant exam tables, 12 standard exam tables along with numerous enhancements to outdated equipment.

With these new resources, USC Nursing is not only expanding capacity but redefining how future nurses are supported as they transition into practice. By continually providing students with advanced technologies and equipment, the college ensures its graduates are better prepared, more confident, and ready to deliver high-quality care. Amidst critical nursing shortages, these investments strengthen USC’s role as a leader in nursing education and a vital partner in improving South Carolina's patient health outcomes.