The Unitec/Waitemata Simulation Learning Lab: A partnership to prepare New Zealand's next generation of nurses

There is a growing concern in New Zealand about the need to better prepare clinicians for the real world of nursing practice. The increased use of human patient simulations is one approach to addressing this concern by offering a well-organized and standardised way to provide content and encourage critical thinking in a safe practice environment. Unitec New Zealand has embraced the use of simulations in their undergraduate nursing curriculum and has partnered with Waitemata District Health Board (WDHB) to develop a state of the art interdisciplinary simulation lab. The simulation lab has been designed using wired and wireless technologies to accommodate various clinical and informatics practice scenarios. Supervision of students uses mounted cameras, and video-conference technology. The Unitec/Waitemata Simulation Learning Lab has the potential to enhance the education of nursing students by offering them a safe place to gain valuable experience with patient car delivery and informatics tools. This paper is designed to summarize the planning process used to develop this partnership, describe the vision of the centre and note the progress to date.