Like many of her colleagues and the students at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, Dr. Tabitha Jones-Thomas is eagerly awaiting the opening of St. Francis Hall—a new building that is currently under construction and will serve as a focal point for the university’s campus.
Inside that facility will be a brand-new Simulated Environment Teaching Hospital, known around FranU as the SETH. Jones-Thomas, who directs this program, says it will open the door to new-and-improved opportunities for students.
High-tech simulators and the hospital-like environments have become an increasingly important component of all health professions curricula, from associate’s degree programs up to the doctoral level. Medical professionals also use the SETH for certification trainings.
“Simulation started out in aviation. They wanted to save lives and have zero mistakes. Becoming proficient in the air with people’s lives at stake was never ideal,” explains Jones-Thomas, associate dean and director of simulated clinical education and associate professor in the School of Nursing. “Healthcare is another place you want to decrease errors. It allows our students to prepare for practice in a safe environment.”
