CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa is celebrating its newly completed nursing facility, giving students access to advanced, hands-on training designed to mirror real-world clinical environments.

Located on the main floor of the Innovative Teaching & Technology Center, the finished unit resembles a functioning hospital, complete with a nurses’ station, simulated electronic medical record system, a medication administration area, and patient care rooms. The approximately $9.5 million project took about two and a half years to complete.

The project is also equipped with debriefing rooms for student collaboration and reflection as well as faculty offices. It fulfills a long-standing vision for UNI’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, according to Chief Academic Nursing Administrator Nancy Kertz.

“It feels pretty incredible to see it come full circle from the initial conception of what it should be to final completion,” Kertz said.

A new simulation unit includes specialized areas for trauma, critical care, labor and delivery, and pediatrics. It features multiple high-fidelity simulators – including adult, pediatric and premature infant manikins – that replicate complex medical scenarios. Some simulators can mimic amputations, while others are capable of simulating childbirth.

“Many programs have one, maybe two simulators,” Kertz said. “We have multiple high-fidelity simulators and even a pediatric, premature infant simulator.”

The expanded technology supports the program’s increased emphasis on trauma care, helping prepare students for a wide range of clinical environments.

“I want our students to be able to work anywhere in Iowa, whether it's a rural, critical access hospital, or an urban setting in a level-one trauma center,” Kertz said. “We want them to have competencies and proficiency in trauma care.”

While advanced technology enhances clinical training, UNI’s nursing program continues to emphasize compassionate, patient-centered care. Even during simulations, students are expected to communicate professionally and treat each scenario as a real clinical experience.

“In our simulation suites, students are never allowed to refer to the experience as ‘pretend,’” Kertz said. “They are expected to interact with simulated patients using professional, therapeutic nurse–patient communication.”

UNI’s first cohort of BSN students completed their clinical experiences last semester and will graduate next spring. UNI is also launching an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, with students beginning coursework for the 12-month program this fall. The ABSN provides new opportunities for individuals who are looking for a career change and already hold a bachelor’s degree or have completed significant coursework.