Hands-On Learning Prepares Future Nurses for Success

This semester, Seton Hall nursing students put theory into practice during Immersion Days at the University’s Interprofessional Health Sciences campus in Nutley, NJ. Participants from a wide range of programs at the University's College of Nursing advanced their professional training through experiential learning opportunities aimed at enhancing their nursing skills in preparation for real-world clinical training.

What are Immersions?

Graduate students in the College of Nursing’s Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) programs participate in three Immersions, in-person training sessions designed by the College to enrich the students’ online academic experiences. Immersions give future nurse practitioners (N.P.s) hands-on opportunities to practice clinical skills, connect with faculty and classmates, and take part in career development sessions.

During Immersions, students perform and practice advanced nursing skills they will rely on during the clinical training required to become licensed nurse practitioners. Each Immersion features a tailored curriculum aligned with five specialty tracks: Adult Gerontology-Acute Care, Adult Gerontology-Primary Care, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care and Psychiatric-Mental Health.

Emily Schneider, who is enrolled in Seton Hall’s Adult Gerontology-Primary Care track, noted, “It's a comfortable educational environment for us to learn and grow as clinicians. We get to learn advanced skills that would otherwise be uncomfortable to do in an outpatient setting or in our clinicals without having that prior knowledge."

“The best part about Immersions is the ability to connect with peers and faculty,” said Jessica Lorvil, a student in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) track. Most N.P. students are working nursing professionals with busy lives, and these in-person events “Give us time to laugh and celebrate our achievements thus far, and recognize that we’re not alone,” she added.

Skills in Focus: Acute Care Training

Each Immersion builds on prior coursework and prepares N.P. students to transition into their clinical rotations. At Immersion III on October 28, students in the AGACNP track practiced advanced clinical skills including intubation, arterial and central line insertion, and EKG interpretation.

“It’s learning by doing — in the safety of the classroom,” said Mary Ellen Roberts, D.N.P., R.N., A.P.N.C., chair of the graduate nursing department and director of the Doctor of Nurse Practitioner program. “N.P. students are supervised by faculty who observe their skills and provide corrective feedback in a supportive setting.”

Collaborative Learning: B.S.N. Meets M.S.N.

During the AGACNP Immersion III event, seniors in Seton Hall’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program participated with NP students in a simulation experience in the High-Fidelity Patient Suite, set up to mimic an acute care patient setting. They worked collaboratively, as they will in a healthcare setting, to provide comprehensive care to improve patient outcomes, said Kathryn Sanok, M.S.N., R.N, CHSE, Director of Simulation for the College of Nursing. 

“B.S.N. students are learning how to provide and coordinate care as registered nurses (R.N.s), while our N.P. students, who are currently practicing as R.N.s, are learning advanced skills as diagnosticians,” said Sanok. The simulation helps all students to practice in an environment that supports learning through critical thinking needed to practice as healthcare providers in both roles.  

Simulation Excellence for the 21st Century

Seton Hall’s state-of-the-art Simulation Center is a hallmark of its nursing curriculum. In 2023, the College of Nursing, in partnership with the School of Health and Medical Sciences, secured a $1.14 million federal grant to enhance the Center’s facilities.

The grant has funded technology upgrades and new equipment, further elevating the quality of Seton Hall’s clinical training and ensuring that future practitioners develop the advanced skills, confidence and competence needed to excel in today’s healthcare landscape.

Categories: Health and Medicine