GREENVILLE, S.C. (January 5, 2024) – The Bob Jones University Division of Nursing Simulation Center has been granted full accreditation status by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). Founded in 2004 by healthcare professionals, SSH is the largest healthcare simulation accrediting body in the world. The organization seeks to improve patient outcomes by reducing errors in care through the use of simulation in a variety of modalities.
After receiving provisional status in May 2021, the BJU nursing faculty submitted two years of data collected in the state-of-the-art simulation spaces in the Mack Building, home of the School of Health Professions, and hosted a site visit by SSH accreditors in November 2023. Dr. Jessica Minor, dean of the BJU School of Health Professions, was notified in mid-December 2023, of the successful bid. Full accreditation is granted for five years. This achievement will be recognized at the annual International Meeting for Simulation in Healthcare.
Abigail Washburn, who has an MS in healthcare simulation, serves as director of the center and is assisted by nursing faculty member, Lisa Arnold.
“It is gratifying to achieve full accreditation status. My predecessor, Ramona Anest, laid the groundwork for our bid and I count it a privilege to build on her work,” said Washburn. “Our mission is to prepare godly, competent healthcare professionals. Accreditation is an important step to formalize the quality work BJU has been doing for years and continue to improve.”
Students in the School of Health Professions benefit from practicing their skills in a low-stakes environment, learning to communicate with colleagues and managing crises while receiving constructive feedback from faculty. Working with human patient simulators and standardized patients gives students experience with procedures they are not allowed to perform in clinical settings and eases the transition to working in the healthcare field.
The simulation center also provides interdisciplinary activities for students majoring in languages (medical interpretation), multimedia journalism, etc. In the summer, several EDUcamp cohorts utilize the nursing simulation center.
“This accomplishment has been years in the making. When the Mack Building was renovated for the School of Health Professions, Ramona Anest and Lisa Arnold designed the simulation center with growth in mind,” said Dr Minor. “This center is critical for the school and Abigail and Lisa continually look for ways to strengthen the student’s education through the use of simulation.”
Nursing is one of the top ten declared majors at BJU. Since the fall of 1979, the nursing program has had 1,316 graduates. The NCLEX-RN pass rate for the class of 2022 was 84% in comparison to the national rate of 79.9% for those with baccalaureate degrees.
