Southern’s School of Nursing Opens New Simulation Center

The School of Nursing at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee, United States, recently added an exciting new addition: the Miller Hall Nursing Simulation Center. After outgrowing three simulation rooms in AdventHealth Hall, the nursing program found a perfect solution through the renovation of the building next door. Opened during the fall 2025 semester, a grand opening ceremony for the new center was held on Friday, October 24, celebrating the milestone.

The new simulation center features many valuable spaces for nursing students, including a spacious second-floor classroom that seats approximately 70 students. The stage in the room is the designated obstetric simulation lab, housing a birthing bed for the obstetrics (OB) simulator mannequin and an infant warmer for the newborn simulator mannequin.

On the same floor, an apartment-style room offers a realistic setting for community health and psychiatric-mental health nurses to practice aiding patients at home. The final feature on this floor is a study space named the Bonnie Hunt Student Lounge in honor of the beloved late professor Bonnie Hunt and her 45 years of service to the School of Nursing.

The lower floor of Miller Hall is divided into six smaller labs equipped for adult acute care, pediatric care, critical care, and emergency services. Simulations in these rooms are run by an instructor in the control room on the same floor. Down the hallway are two spacious conference rooms where students can observe the simulations and debrief after the scenario is over.

The new high-tech features provide crucial opportunities for students to develop skills and gain hands-on experience in nursing. Before the new center opened, simulation opportunities were more limited, so this expands access to hands-on learning across all nursing programs.

“With the new space, all of our students will have more opportunities to practice,” said Cindy Johnson, professor in the School of Nursing, who is excited about the expansion and looking forward to creating those opportunities in her classes.

Roisbel Hernandez, senior nursing major, shared her professor’s enthusiasm for the simulation center. “I’m thrilled to see this project because it shows how much the School of Nursing is invested in making our transition into the nursing field as smooth as possible,” she said.

Nursing labs are key in preparing students for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), a standardized test that all registered nurses must pass in order to become licensed. Southern’s most recent statistics cite a 92 percent first-time pass rate for the university’s associate program and an impressive perfect 100 percent pass rate for the bachelor’s program.

“Additional hands-on labs will help a lot as I’m preparing for graduation and the NCLEX,” said Eliyah Sprenkle, senior nursing major. “I tend to be a visual learner, so it’s easier for me to understand the procedure if I can do it myself or watch it up close.”

“The NCLEX is very focused on critical-thinking skills, so many of the questions are scenario based,” Johnson added. “Simulations allow a safe space for students to work on clinical application and judgment.”

The Miller Hall Nursing Simulation Center renovation has been funded entirely by donations. “We are deeply grateful to everyone involved in this much-needed expansion—from generous donors to committed employees—every single person who has helped support the creation of our new educational space,” said Holly Gadd, dean of the School of Nursing.

The original version of this release was posted on the Southern Adventist University news site.