Center for Clinical Education & Research
Nursing is a complex program of study that includes rigorous courses coupled with clinically challenging practicums. The staff of the CCER is dedicated to promoting student engagement and maximizing potential as students prepare to transition into practice. The CCER serves students through individualized academic and social support. A close partnership between our staff and Student Services has proven beneficial to students committed to their success in the nursing program. When connected with appropriate resources, students learn effective academic habits and experience a high rate of success.
The Center for Clinical Education and Research (CCER) has created a recycling program, SimCycle, to address the issue of waste by decreasing single-use plastic waste. Clear bins with the SimCycle logo are dispersed throughout the skills labs, outpatient exam rooms, and the simulation suite to collect items for repurposing. Students dispose of intravenous tubing, fluid bags, and indwelling catheter kits after practicing their skills on task trainers. Under the direction of the lab manager, a team of work-study students, graduate teaching assistants, and simulation educators developed a cleaning and repackaging process that does not sacrifice the integrity of the product for additional practice.
SimCycle enhances student awareness of single-use plastics in health care and their impact on the environment. The program has demonstrated $11,035 in financial savings since its inception in March 2021. Collaboration between students and CCER staff has created a sustainable environment that enriches the educational culture in the nursing simulation lab.