Mission
The Orvis School of Nursing Simulation Program is dedicated to preparing practice-ready nurse leaders through evidence-based learning strategies. We provide a diverse, inclusive and safe environment where students engage in realistic and immersive simulations that reflect the complexities of modern healthcare. Our goal is to empower our students to build confidence, competence and clinical reasoning skills, to lead as future nurses with excellence in every health care setting.
Vision
The Orvis School of Nursing Simulation Program aspires to be a premier simulation center recognized locally, nationally and globally. We envision a dynamic, inclusive community of lifelong learners and emerging nurse leaders who embrace a growth mindset and advance healthcare through innovative, evidence-based simulation. By fostering interprofessional collaboration and immersive learning, we aim to elevate the impact of simulation in healthcare education and shape the future of clinical excellence and improve patient outcomes.
Simulation program history
The Orvis School of Nursing Simulation Program was formally established in 2020 with the hiring of the School’s first simulation specialist. This marked the transition from ad hoc skills and simulation activities to a centralized, intentionally designed simulation program supporting undergraduate and graduate nursing education. Since its inception, the program has focused on providing high-quality, learner-centered simulation experiences that support clinical skill development, clinical reasoning and competency progression across programs.
In the summer of 2024, the simulation program underwent a significant expansion at the Redfield Campus to meet the growing needs of learners and faculty. The simulation laboratory expanded from a single simulation suite with one control room to four fully equipped simulation suites supported by two control rooms. This expansion substantially increased the program’s capacity to support concurrent simulation activities, improve operational efficiency and enhance realism and flexibility in scenario delivery.
In the fall of 2024, the simulation program entered a new phase of curricular integration with the implementation of a redesigned undergraduate simulation curriculum. This curriculum aligns with the undergraduate program’s competency-based curriculum and intentionally maps simulation experiences to program-level competencies. Simulation is now used as a structured and progressive learning modality across the undergraduate program, supporting the development of clinical judgment, professional behaviors and technical skills in alignment with competency-based education principles.
Together, these milestones reflect the continued growth and maturation of the Orvis School of Nursing Simulation Program, demonstrating a commitment to infrastructure development, curricular alignment and the intentional use of simulation to support learner outcomes and program goals.
Guiding principles
- Psychological safety
- Evidence-based practice
- Consistency across Reno and Tahoe campuses
- Equity and access
- Operational sustainability
- Continuous quality improvement
Faculty and staff
- Haley McNeil, MSN, R.N., CHSE, director of simulation and lecturer
- Andy Garcia, simulation operations manager
- Jessie Heron, MSN, RN, CCRN, lecturer II
- Carrie Breakell, MSN, RN, lecturer II
- Kobe Henderson, simulation lab technician
- Destiny Mitchell, simulation lab technician