Palm Beach State College opens cutting-edge Medical Simulation Suite to train future nurses

Palm Beach State College nursing students are stepping into the future of healthcare with the debut of the Medical Simulation Suite, which officially opened on Feb. 17 at the Education and Training Center on the Lake Worth campus.

PBSC Board of Trustees members, nursing faculty and students and healthcare partners attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new facility, where students will practice responding to complex emergencies, sharpen their clinical judgment and bridge classroom theory with hands-on experience —all under the guidance of expert faculty.

 “We hear time and time again from our partners that PBSC nurses are exceptional, knowledgeable, compassionate and ready to lead,” said PBSC President Ava L. Parker, J.D. “This lab will help us continue that tradition of excellence by allowing our students to practice hands-on skills, make real-time decisions and learn in settings that look and feel just like the hospitals they're soon serving.”

The state-of-the-art suite was created with support from donors such as the Frederick A. Deluca Foundation, HCA Healthcare, Palm Beach Health Network and Quantum Foundation. It features eight simulation rooms, including obstetrics, where students use augmented reality goggles to simulate labor and delivery; an intensive care unit room; a trauma treatment room; a pediatric simulation room and a medical-surgical room. Students engage in realistic patient-care scenarios using AI-driven mannequins in a safe, controlled learning environment.

The suite also includes three debriefing rooms where students reflect on their performance and strengthen clinical decision-making skills. This immersive, hands-on training prepares graduates to step confidently into critical healthcare roles.

That commitment to real-world readiness is echoed by local healthcare leaders who work closely with PBSC students in clinical settings. Maritess Quinto, director of clinical professional development at HCA Healthcare, has firsthand experience working with PBSC nursing students and believes that the simulation center will continue to enhance students’ preparedness.

“Palm Beach State has a great curriculum. We always believe and trust that students are prepared coming to our facility,” Quinto said “I can’t imagine the growth that’s going to happen with the simulation center. Students were already doing great, but this center will help sharpen their skills, communication and interaction.”

PBSC is Palm Beach County’s largest educator of allied health professionals.  More than 900 students are currently enrolled in the Patient Care Assistant (PCA), Practical Nursing (LPN), Registered Nursing (RN), and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs. With the launch of the simulation suite, PBSC continues to elevate the quality of nursing education in the region, preparing graduates who are ready to enter the workforce with confidence.

To view more photos of the event, visit the Flickr album.