Subscribe to MWCC News 
On Monday, October 2, Mount Wachusett Community College leadership, staff, and faculty were joined by local legislators and business leaders to celebrate the completion of the college’s nursing simulation laboratory expansion.
“This is a turbulent time for healthcare in this country, but programs like this are a shining spot on the map,” Representative Jon Zlotnik shared on behalf of himself and Representative Natalie Higgins. “This program has produced many fine healthcare professionals to do the important work that our community needs. Of all the challenges we face, the one that is in our control is the staffing shortage, and the Mount has continually stepped up to deliver quality professionals to fill the roles that are so important to both our health and our quality of life here in Central Massachusetts.”
“On behalf of our students, faculty and staff, I would like to thank the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education for the Mass Skills Capital Grant which made this simulation expansion possible,” noted Kim Shea, Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences. “Through the use of high-fidelity simulation, MWCC’s nursing students now have the ability to practice hands-on clinical skills they may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience in the traditional clinical setting.”
The simulation laboratory enables nursing students to learn in a safe practice environment and provides a more equitable set of clinical experiences for all. The laboratory has elements of a typical hospital ward and includes pediatric and maternity simulations, as well as a home care simulation where resident “Millie” lives.
The project was funded by a Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant Program from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Workforce Skills Cabinet (Executive Office of Education. The Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant Program was developed by the Commonwealth for the purchase and installation of equipment and related improvements and renovations necessary for the installation and use of such equipment to support vocational and technical training. The equipment is intended to upgrade and expand career technical education and training programs that are aligned to regional economic and workforce development priorities for in-demand industries.