Southeast Missouri State University’s Department of Nursing is elevating student learning by adding seven new high-fidelity manikins to its state-of-the-art simulation lab. These additions, made possible by the 2025 SEMO Giving Day, further empower nursing students to bridge the gap between the classroom and real-life patient care.
“It’s wonderful to have all the bells and whistles, but what really matters is that our students use it—every single day,” said Dr. Moretta Burk, chair and associate professor of nursing at SEMO. “When they walk into clinical settings and recognize the same equipment they practiced here, you can see their confidence rise. They step into patient care knowing ‘I’ve done this before.’”
SEMO’s Department of Nursing utilizes a diverse range of manikins and tools to train students in both routine and emergency care in a safe, low-risk environment:
- High-fidelity manikins for ICU simulation: one adult manikin and one pediatric manikin designed to prepare students for critical care situations
- “Sim Mom”: a specialized manikin that simulates childbirth
- Additional manikin for lifespan training, allowing practice across all stages of life: a neonatal manikin, a child manikin and a geriatric manikin
- Partial trainers, like “blood” arms, are partial body parts to prepare students for IV insertion and other procedures
- Hospital-grade equipment, such as ventilators, adjustable hospital beds and IV pump systems allow students to build confidence and competency with real clinical technology before ever entering a healthcare setting.
These manikins and equipment give students valuable practice in versatile training scenarios, including IV administration, airway management, emergency response training and more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT NURSING AT SEMO
SEMO’s nursing simulation lab is designed to reflect the standards of best practice established by the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL). These guidelines represent the highest benchmarks in simulation-based nursing education, ensuring SEMO students learn in environments modeled after national best practices.
Burk says working in the SIM labs, combined with clinical training sets SEMO nursing students apart.
“The job market for nurses is incredibly strong right now,” said Burk. “Our SEMO nursing students consistently secure employment quickly, and most of them receive offers before graduation. We’re fortunate to have outstanding local healthcare partners who recognize the quality of our graduates and want them to stay and grow in this region.”
Dr. Laura Schumpert, instructor and nursing simulation lab coordinator, emphasized the value of this investment.
“We are able to create a wide variety of structured environments in the simulation lab, providing our students with safe place to build confidence,” said Schumpert. “We want to be trailblazers in nursing. Together, these investments reinforce our hands-on healthcare education.”
If you want to train with world-class equipment, join the trailblazers of SEMO’s nursing department and apply today. For more information about SEMO’s Department of Nursing, visit semo.edu/nursing.