Expanding Nursing Simulation, SUNY Awards More Than $3.7 Million to Campuses
December 17, 2024
Governor Kathy Hochul Signed Legislation in 2023 Enabling Nursing Students to Complete 1/3 of their Clinical Training via High-Quality Simulation
Funding Will Advance Simulation-Based Education in SUNY Nursing Programs
Valhalla, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. and the SUNY Board of Trustees today announced the transformative impact of a $3.7 million investment from its High Needs Nursing Fund, advancing simulation-based education in SUNY nursing programs. Over two consecutive years, the SUNY High Needs Nursing Fund has equipped SUNY campuses with the necessary tools, training, and resources to modernize and expand simulation experiences for students. This effort has allowed nursing programs to train more nurses, directly supporting Governor Kathy Hochul's goal of growing the state's health care workforce by 20%.
In May 2023, Governor Hochul signed legislation permitting nursing students to complete up to one-third of their clinical training through high-quality simulation experiences. Asked to consider how best to implement the new law, the SUNY Future of Health Care Workforce Task Force, a group convened to guide SUNY in addressing the critical health care workforce shortage, identified fully leveraging nursing simulation as one of its four priority areas for short-term action and investment.
"SUNY's investment in the High Needs Nursing Fund underscores our commitment to securing the future success of New York State's health care workforce. With the invaluable input of the SUNY Nursing Simulation Fellows, this funding is dedicated to acquiring state-of-the-art simulation technology and expanding training and resources that strengthens our nursing programs," said SUNY Chancellor King. "SUNY campuses are well positioned to help meet Governor Hochul's goal to grow the state's health care workforce by 20% and serve the needs of New Yorkers for generations to come."
SUNY Board Trustee Eric Corngold said, "As New York State continues to navigate the challenge of a significant nursing shortage, SUNY is making great strides by teaching students on state-of-the-art equipment that will truly prepare them for their careers ahead. We remain steadfast in ensuring our state's health care workforce is sufficiently staffed with highly skilled nurses dedicated to making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers, and the High Needs Nursing Fund is a big part of that effort."
Every SUNY campus with a nursing program received funding to enhance simulation-based education. The $3.7 million investment supports more than 150 faculty and staff simulation trainings across 24 campuses, the acquisition of 53 new state-of-the-art simulation manikins, and the purchase of essential simulation and medical equipment, including scenario kits, code response carts, and more to 33 campuses.
Additionally, 18 campuses are investing in advanced audiovisual tools such as cameras, recording systems, and intercoms to enhance the fidelity of simulation experiences and support high-quality debriefing sessions, proven to be critical for effective learning. Cutting-edge virtual reality programs are being implemented on 17 campuses, further modernizing their nursing simulation offerings.
Campuses awarded include: SUNY Adirondack, University at Albany, Alfred State College, Binghamton University, SUNY Brockport, SUNY Broome, University at Buffalo, SUNY Canton, Cayuga Community College, Clinton Community College, Columbia-Greene Community College, SUNY Corning Community College, SUNY Delhi, Downstate Health Sciences University, Dutchess Community College, Empire State University, Farmingdale State College, Finger Lakes Community College, SUNY Fulton-Montgomery Community College, Genesee Community College, Hudson Valley Community College, Jamestown Community College, Jefferson Community College, Mohawk Valley Community College, Monroe Community College, SUNY Morrisville, Nassau Community College, SUNY Niagara, North Country Community College, Onondaga Community College, SUNY Orange, SUNY Plattsburgh, Rockland Community College, Stony Brook University, Suffolk County Community College, SUNY Sullivan, Tompkins Cortland Community College, SUNY Ulster, Upstate Medical University, and Westchester Community College.
Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, said, "I have seen firsthand how advanced nursing simulation technology has become. I am proud that my legislation, which became law last year, is a becoming a national leader in encouraging simulation experiences as a part of a nurse's clinical training. The High Needs Nursing fund will establish the simulation infrastructure needed to reach our goal of graduating significantly more nurses with hands-on experience, addressing our nursing shortage, and putting the SUNY system at the forefront of nursing education throughout the country."
Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, Chair of the Assembly's Standing Committee on Higher Education, said, "New York needs to hire thousands of nurses in order to maintain current levels of care over the next few years. This new funding will allow campuses to expand nursing simulation programs, which help to fast-track nurses' path towards obtaining their degrees. As we seek to address the health care workforce crisis, commonsense policies like these will help us meet the demands of the future and maintain critical care for New York families and patients."
Assemblymember Amy Paulin, Chair of the Assembly's Committee on Health, said, "I've witnessed high tech nursing simulation programs and it's an incredible experience to see them. Nursing students are getting such a high level of education and training in New York State through programs like the SUNY nursing simulation program. This funding will also help address our health care workforce shortage. I thank Chancellor King for recognizing this opportunity and supporting the SUNY Nursing Simulation Fellowship."
Assembly Member Karines Reyes, R.N., Chair of the Assembly & Senate's Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force, said, "I applaud SUNY and the institution's leadership for making this pivotal investment in a critical part of New York State's workforce. Our state is facing a shortage of nurses in the coming years and decades. This investment in infrastructure supports faculty and students at various colleges throughout the state to improve the methods used to provide simulation training for incoming nursing students. This is a future-oriented investment that we will see the benefits of, through graduation rates, health care outcomes, and many more positive indicators. Thank you to all parties involved in this project."
Assemblymember Aileen M. Gunther said, "Strengthening health care workforce development is crucial for New York State, where understaffed hospitals pose significant risks to patient care. The State's investment in the High Needs Nursing Fund is critical to addressing the nursing shortage and improving hiring opportunities. As a nurse, I understand the vital contributions nurses make every day as the cornerstone of our health care system. I fully support efforts to expand access to the profession for all students paired with a commitment to excellence in patient care. I applaud SUNY Chancellor King and Governor Hochul for their leadership in advancing this critical issue."
Assemblymember Donna Lupardo said, "The goal behind our effort to allow one-third of clinical nursing training to be simulation based, was to help address NY's health care workforce shortage. SUNY's investment of $3.7M in campuses across the state will help turn this goal into a reality. I'd like to thank SUNY for making such a significant investment in simulation-based education through the High Needs Nursing Fund; providing the resources needed to modernize and expand these critically important programs."
In October, Chancellor King announced the inaugural class of the SUNY Nursing Simulation Fellowship, a key initiative to further advance SUNY nursing programs in adopting simulation-based education for students. The SUNY Nursing Simulation Fellowship will help SUNY prepare more nurses for New York State's health care workforce – a major objective of Governor Kathy Hochul and SUNY.
The SUNY Nursing Simulation Fellowship was developed based on recommendations from the SUNY Future of Health Care Workforce Task Force, convened to guide SUNY in addressing the critical health care workforce shortage and the Governor's goal of increasing the health care workforce in New York State by 20%. Following this engagement with over 125 experts across SUNY institutions and the health care industry, the Task Force identified four priority areas for short-term action and investment, including fully leveraging nursing simulation.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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Holly Liapis
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