New sim lab elevates education at AdventHealth Castle Rock

When it comes to hands-on learning, nothing beats stepping into a space designed to mirror real-life scenarios. That’s why educators at AdventHealth Castle Rock are celebrating the opening of a dedicated Simulation Lab, thanks in part to the donation of three manikins from AdventHealth University.

“We’re very excited about the possibilities this Sim Lab brings for education,” shared Kelly Burd, educator at AdventHealth Castle Rock. “Having access to both high-fidelity and low-fidelity manikins allows our teams to practice everything from basic skills to complex patient simulations.”

The new lab features a high-fidelity adult manikin capable of simulating intricate patient scenarios, a low-fidelity adult manikin for essential clinical skills, and a high-fidelity baby manikin.

The Simulation Lab is set up in a converted patient room, creating a more immersive and realistic environment for learners.

“Ellery Reed made it possible for us to take over an actual patient room,” Burd explained. “We can keep all of our teaching equipment in one space, which is also very helpful.”

The benefits reach beyond nursing.

“This space is available for other disciplines—therapy, respiratory therapy, technicians—the options are endless,” Burd emphasized.

The lab supports everything from unit orientation and skills fairs to innovative learning methods.

“We’re introducing ‘escape rooms’ where learners solve puzzles related to patient care. My plan is to run our first escape room for house supervisors in October.”

Beyond enhancing training, the Sim Lab has also improved the workspace for educators.

“Housing all the equipment in the office with six educators was getting congested. The educators feel so much better now that we’ve cleaned up their space,” Burd noted.

With this dedicated simulation lab, AdventHealth Castle Rock is setting a new standard for medical education, making learning more accessible, collaborative, and real.