The School of Nursing Simulation and Skills Center (SSC) is a cutting-edge facility on the fourth floor of the School of Nursing at The University of Texas at Austin. It uses advanced technologies like virtual reality, manikins, and role-playing scenarios to provide nursing students with realistic clinical experiences. The SSC is dedicated to exceeding educational standards and offering an environment where students can develop essential nursing skills.
Contact Information
Nicole Manley
Simulation and Skills Center (SSC) Director
Simlab@nursing.utexas.edu
Amanda Marshall
Senior Program Coordinator, Simulation Lab
amanda.marshall@nursing.utexas.edu
512-471-9062
Hours: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Jonathan Spear
Program Coordinator, Skills Lab
jonathan.spear@nursing.utexas.edu
512-471-9091
Hours: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Simulation Lab
In the Simulation Lab at UT School of Nursing, students gain hands-on experience in providing safe, evidence-based patient care. Using advanced manikins that simulate patients of all ages, nursing students practice addressing complex needs and improving communication skills in a supervised, dynamic environment.
Simulation Lab: 4.106A-F | Debriefing Rooms: 4.104 A&B
SIM Lab Resources for Faculty and Staff
The Simulation Lab can help deliver your learning objectives to nursing students utilizing the many different ‘sim’ activities/platforms. Please feel free to contact us about your sim and its preparation so we can make for the most beneficial and productive delivery of instruction for you and your team to deliver to your students. Substantial or major significant changes must go through a vetting process, and we can help you with that process.
Our TAs are also high-quality members of our team and while we are limited in TA staffing, we do have TA and SA personnel dedicated to SIM delivery. This situates us with trained personnel that can maintain a consistency and focus on delivering SIMs to the standards of UT Austin School of Nursing.
SIM Lab Resources for Students
Our team is assigned to provide students a high quality “simulated” learning environment to go along with the clinical and traditional learning opportunities that students have available to them.
Working with student’s instructors and their curriculum, we provide educational simulations that involve live participants, high fidelity manikins, simple manikins, and virtual reality (VR). These are designed to have you utilize, practice, and learn the objectives for your course. They provide you an opportunity to practice your skills and help your fellow students practice theirs in typically a group setting approximating what you see professionally in a safe no consequence learning environment. Putting in a serious and professional effort on yours and our part will result in a unique and engaging learning experience.
No food or drinks! Please follow all signage in the simulation lab.
Student Technology Orientation
VPE policy – please refer to Course Canvas for additional instructions when reserving space for VPE.
SIM Lab Initiatives
Please help our SIM team provide a high-quality learning experience by having students and instructors picking up after themselves, placing unused items in recycle bins and trash in the appropriate container (trash can/sharps/ recycle). A team effort by all stakeholders can greatly help in maintaining a highly professional world class SIM facility and workflow.
If you have Virtual Reality assigned to your class, be sure to get some open lab time to familiarize yourself with the tool (VR) you’ll be using so you can focus on the material when in your class. VR open lab is scheduled through Accudemia.
Skills Lab
The Skills Lab is used for nursing skills development in a setting similar to an open hospital patient ward. Students practice a variety of tasks to form and perfect required nursing skills in a space that accommodates didactic content delivery, which allows students to learn about and observe the procedure before practicing in a clinical setting.
Skills Classrooms: 4.102, 4.108, 4.118, 4.120 | Assessment Rooms: 3.152, 3.154
Skills Lab Resources for Faculty and Staff
If you have Virtual Reality assigned to your class, be sure to get some open lab time to go familiarize yourself with the tool (VR) you’ll be using so you can focus on the material when in your class.
- Canvas Orientation Template for VR Activity
- VR open lab is scheduled through Accudemia
- Accudemia Resources
- VR Student Process
Skills Lab Resources for Student
Please read your instructor syllabus to learn more about the items below and check your emails for messages about purchasing supplies from Student Services.
- Longhorn Nursing Apparel and Supplies Flyer
- Longhorn Nursing Apparel and Supplies Online Store
- ATI EHRTUTOR Create an Account
- Compliance for UT Austin School of Nursing Undergrads
- Student Skills Lab Packs for skills classes each semester
- Emails will be sent via Student Services to students 1 month prior to start of semester. Instructions will be provided. Price range vary on level of cohort.
- Assessment Kits can be purchased at the Longhorn Nursing Apparel and Supplies online store
- AHA BLS and First Aid Classes
Skills Lab Resources for Community Partners and Organizations
Donate to the UT School of Nursing Simulation & Skills Center
Volunteer Opportunities will be available soon.
Tours - High School Field Trips: Please contact Deanna Baker at dbaker@nursing.utexas.edu.
Open Lab
Open lab hours may be used to practice assessment or clinical skills. Instructor’s referrals are required to make up clinical hours. Please contact your professor for more information. Dates and times vary so please check Accudemia or reach out to your professor.
Appointment requests and confirmations are to be scheduled in Accudemia. This is to ensure the needed materials and staff are available at that time. During busy times; VPE test dates, simulation, students may be limited to one 30 to 45-min. appointment per day. Students who need to make up several hours should plan on multiple visits over the course of several days to complete their prescribed lab practice.
1. Can I check out equipment and supplies from the lab?
Specific equipment and supplies are available to check-out for class-related assignments and projects. Please refer to LEAP Center Supply Check-out Policy (PDF) for additional requirements and contact information.
2. I missed a lab, now what?
Contact your lab instructor for additional instruction. Open lab schedules are listed on Accudemia and outside the doors of the lab rooms.