Health Sciences Building Update

Exceeding expectations

IU President Michael A. McRobbie

Our new state-of-the-art NLRC offers students everything we asked for and more!

June 9, 2021 was a very special day for our university and our school as IU President Michael A. McRobbie and a host of dignitaries and guests dedicated IU’s new Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC), officially opening the new state-of-the-art facility to public tours of the building. 

A matter of special pride for us was the opportunity the dedication gave us to showcase our new Nursing Learning Resource Center (NLRC) and Inter-Professional Simulation (SIM) Center to the public. We offered a preview of the new NLRC in our last edition of The Nursing News. Now, we’d like to provide you with an update.

Inside the learning lab
IUSON BL’s Hanna Raber (left) and Sally Gindling (right) provided guided tours that showcased the new NLRC and SIM Center to our distinguished visitors and their guests.

Expanded facilities, advanced technology, and more

To recap the information from last winter’s edition of The Nursing News, the new NLRC (also known as the skills lab) is more than eight times larger than the “old” NLRC in Sycamore Hall. The new NLRC holds 22 beds, greatly expanded classroom facilities that enable our instructors to teach up to 40 students at a time, a Labor & Delivery area, and advanced setups for teaching med-surg and critical care. In addition:

  • Advanced classroom technology, recording equipment, and audio systems have made a tremendous difference to our faculty when organizing and conducting lab sessions. We now have the capability to run two classes independently or combine the space to teach a single, large class.
  • Independent check-off spaces now allow for more student privacy and the ability to record check-offs or practice sessions for students and/or faculty to review later. The new classroom space offers nearly unlimited possibilities, as our faculty now have the flexibility to design extremely engaging classroom activities and to work more closely with our students. 

"I'm so happy for our students and truly feel our new space will enhance nursing education for years to come."

                                         -- Lecturer & NLRC Manager Hanna Raber

IUSON BL Director of Operations April Sauer, Lecturer & NLRC Manager Hanna Raber, and IU Health Associate Chief Nursing Officer Debra Wellman at the Health Sciences Building dedication.

We've opened to rave reviews!

Since occupying the space in early February, the new NLRC has gotten rave reviews from students and faculty alike. Here are some examples:

“Teaching in the new NLRC has been such a positive change. The space is inspiring, offers impressive technology, and easily accommodates 40 students. The layout has greatly improved the ability of our nursing faculty to instruct students and demonstrate skills. In addition, the space allows students to engage in an environment that is nearly identical to real-world health care facilities.”

                                            – Abby Berg, Clinical Assistant Professor 

“I found the new NLRC to be incredibly helpful! The lab is beautiful and filled with all sorts of supplies. When you’re working in such a nice environment, it really pushes the drive to learn! I was so eager to try out all the new technology that surrounded me. I also enjoyed how spacious it is because I felt like I had all the room I needed to be as interactive with my manikin patients as I needed to be! It was also great that all the items we use are so modern and mimic an actual, evolving hospital. That helps make the simulation feel more real! The semester became much more exciting once the NLRC opened up!” 

                                           – Mariama Falke, IUSON BL Junior Nursing Student

"The new NLRC feels almost too good to be true! The equipment is top-notch. When you walk in, it feels like you are really in a hospital. They truly did not miss a single detail. It is very evident that they spared no expense and really want us to have the best education possible. Not only that, but the whole building just feels ‘home-y’. We all have our own lockers, a place to eat and socialize, and a place we can come to and study for exams. It really helps to support the closely-knit group that nursing students become during the three years we spend at IU. The new NLRC really showcases the hard work that we put in as nursing students.”

                                            – Caroline Laderer, IUSON BL Junior Nursing Student

“Each of the stations allows for students to have all needed supplies at their fingertips, which offers convenience and helps students learn about the kinds of equipment needed to perform interventions and administer treatments. Having cameras installed in the space allows faculty to demonstrate how to perform a skill in a way that allows all students to clearly see just what is happening. An added bonus is having a hall of windows just outside the NLRC entrance, which is something we haven’t had before! It’s nice to be able to see the sunlight after a long day of teaching!”

                                            – Erin Wyatt, Clinical Assistant Professor

“The new NLRC is more amazing than I could have imagined. As much as I love giving tours to all, my absolute favorite thing to do is show the space to students. Their reaction makes all the countless hours of planning and preparation more than worth it. I’m so happy for our students to have this space, and I am thrilled to introduce new hospital systems such as the electronic medical record, medication dispensing systems, and the overall room setup to them prior to their clinical experience. The physical environment is such an important component of nursing care, and I truly feel our new space will enhance nursing education for years to come.”

                                           – Hanna Raber, NLRC Manager & Lecturer

Next up: The SIM Center

As you read this edition of The Nursing News, finishing touches are being put on our new Inter-Professional Simulation (SIM) center.  We’ll take you on a tour of the SIM in our next edition of The Nursing News.
The new Nursing Learning Resource Center