When clinical training opportunities became increasingly limited following the COVID-19 pandemic, Meridian Community College (MCC) faced a growing challenge: ensuring nursing and allied health students received the hands-on experiences needed to develop confidence, clinical judgment, and workforce-ready skills.
Like many healthcare education programs, MCC relied heavily on local clinical sites for student training. However, reduced patient unit availability, temporary unit closures, and competition for clinical placements created significant barriers. With fewer opportunities for direct patient care experiences, the college needed an innovative solution to maintain high-quality training and sustain enrollment growth.
With financial support from AccelerateMS, MCC launched the MCC Eagles Nursing & Allied Health Project, focused on expanding and modernizing its nursing simulation capabilities. Funding supported the renovation of Webb Hall’s nursing simulation lab, doubling the size of the original space while providing updated simulation equipment, supplies, and outreach resources to promote healthcare career pathways.
Planning began in fall 2023, with renovations completed in summer 2024 and equipment installation finalized later that year. By fall 2024, the expanded facility was fully operational.
The new simulation environment gives students access to realistic patient-care scenarios that closely mirror clinical settings. With additional simulation rooms, updated manikins, modern equipment, and a newly designed audiovisual system, faculty can observe, record, and stream simulation experiences to support instruction and debriefing. The enhanced space also creates opportunities for multidisciplinary healthcare training and future interdisciplinary simulation exercises.
The impact has already been measurable. Since spring 2024, MCC has seen a 10% improvement in student retention across nursing cohorts. Student simulation time has increased by 8% in some cohorts, while the expanded facility allows students to care for more patients during simulations, take on nursing leadership roles more frequently, and observe a broader range of clinical scenarios.
For students, the benefits extend beyond the numbers.
“Sim lab helps me identify my strengths as well as my weaknesses so I may give the best care once I start to practice my new role as a registered nurse,” said Veronica Henry, a third-semester nursing student.
The project has also strengthened MCC’s position as a healthcare workforce development partner for the region. Simulation staff will present the college’s in-house designed audiovisual system at a national conference in 2026, highlighting the innovation made possible through this investment.
Looking ahead, MCC plans to continue integrating simulation throughout every semester of its nursing curriculum, expand interdisciplinary training opportunities, and pursue accreditation as a Society for Simulation in Healthcare simulation center within the next five years.
