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BISMARCK, ND — One of the nation’s top-ranked nursing programs just got even better. Thanks to donor contributions totaling nearly $3 million, the University of Mary’s nursing program continues to be on the cutting-edge for technology and workspace to best assist faculty and train students for real-world experiences. This nursing renovation to the Casey Center for Nursing Education supports one of the four pillars within Phase II of Mary’s three-phased $272-million Vision 2030 Capital Campaign.

“We are deeply humbled and profoundly grateful to our donors for their extraordinary generosity,” stated University of Mary President Monsignor James Shea. “Your financial contributions have transformed our nursing facilities, elevating the spaces to their highest possible standards where both faculty and students can thrive. Thanks to you, one of the nation’s top-ranked nursing programs now has the tools to better prepare our students for the demands of a profession in crisis. As the nation faces an unprecedented nursing shortage, this new facility will help ensure our students are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and compassion they need to meet the challenges ahead. Your support is not just an investment in our university but in the future of healthcare, as our students go forth to serve their communities with distinction. Thank you for making this transformation possible.”

The University of Mary held a dedication ceremony Wednesday, October 9, at the main entrance to the Casey Center for Nursing Education on campus, where a brief program commenced. From there, a walkthrough began with Monsignor Shea saying a few words while blessing each new dedicated space and presenting each donor with a plaque.

The new nursing spaces within the Casey Center for Nursing Education under the Saint Gianna School of Health Sciences include the Larry and Eileen Weigum Division of Nursing, the Warren Nursing Simulation Center, the Dan and Pam Rustvang ACE Nursing Skills Lab, and the Mayo Pharmacy Medication Room.

The physical space within the Casey Center for Nursing was transformed to include six high fidelity simulation labs with three control rooms, a large nurses station, medication room, an updated nursing skills lab, and the addition of two private nursing skills practice labs. In addition to renovated spaces, simulation equipment was greatly upgraded including purchase of seven new hospital beds, five exam tables, one high fidelity manikin, two low fidelity manikins, a gurney, a nurses call light system, an AED, and a suite of adult and infant CPR manikins for basic life support education. Plus, all simulation and lab spaces were equipped with a state-of-the-art VALT system, which is technology that combines high-quality audio-visual equipment and powerful software making it simple for students and faculty to capture, manage, stream, observe, and reflect on performance collected during nursing simulation experiences. Finally, a nursing classroom and the nursing skills lab both had technology updated to enhance instruction and the student experience. Coming soon is a Pyxis machine identical to the automated medication dispensing systems used in hospitals across the country.

“The goal of this endeavor was to provide University of Mary nursing students and faculty with a high-tech facility aimed to support transformative educational practices that best prepare nurses for entry into the workforce as highly competent, confident, and compassionate professionals grounded in moral courage,” said Dr. Billie Madler, associate dean of Nursing at the University of Mary. “Nursing simulation education equips nursing students with the essential skills in clinical judgment, effective communication, ethical decision-making, compassion, and efficient care delivery by immersing them in realistic scenarios that foster critical thinking and hands-on experience. As a result of these renovations, student experiences in simulated patient encounters have more than quadrupled for every University of Mary nursing student. Meaning, each nursing student has numerous opportunities, every semester, to practice high stakes, real life scenarios in an environment where it is safe to make mistakes, learn, and develop into highly skilled registered nurses.”

The University of Mary is doing its part to help solve a national shortage, with graduates of the program in high demand. This new high-tech space adds to the recent enhancements already in place at the Casey Center for Nursing Education. Last year the University of Mary launched the extremely popular tuition-free Nursing Academy and added a Student Success Coach: a nurse educator who assists prelicensure students with individual barriers related to their academic and social success in the nursing program through proactive outreach.

“Our new simulation and clinical lab spaces feeds into those recent additions while providing students with hands-on experience in a controlled, realistic environment,” added Dr. Mary Dockter, dean of the Saint Gianna School of Health Sciences. “This exposure helps them practice critical decision-making, interprofessional care, and competencies while also developing a deeper understanding of caring for the sick and vulnerable. By simulating real-world scenarios, students can build confidence and moral courage, ensuring they are prepared to advocate for their patients’ needs. Additionally, these labs foster a culture of continuous learning and reflection, essential for maintaining high ethical standards in healthcare.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) advancing the degree level of nursing education significantly enhances patient outcomes, with findings indicating that patients of BSN-prepared nurses experience higher satisfaction, lower mortality rates, and fewer medication and procedural errors. Combining robust experiences in the newly renovated University of Mary simulation center, with rigorous classroom instruction, and plentiful direct patient care experiences, the University of Mary BSN program emphasizes the development of well prepared, BSN graduates ready to embrace the role of a professional nurse and deliver holistic care to each patient and family they encounter.

Anyone who wishes to learn more about the University of Mary can do so at www.umary.edu or  , or by contacting an admissions representative at enroll@umary.edu, or by calling (701) 355-8030. The University of Mary is one of only 15 Recommended Cardinal Newman Society Residential Colleges and Universities in the US.

SWAG��Ƶ the University of Mary: True to its motto “lumen vitae”—The Light of Life—the University of Mary offers education for the whole of life through cutting-edge professional programs and graduate programs animated by moral courage and leadership in chosen professions and service to the community. A private, co-educational Catholic institution, the University of Mary welcomes students of all faiths and backgrounds.

A Christian, Catholic, Benedictine institution founded in 1959 by the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, Mary offers over 60 bachelor’s, 15 master’s, and five doctoral programs—in Business Administration, Education, Nursing Practice, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy. The 19-sport Athletic Department adheres to its Greatness Through Virtue mission under the governance of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) conferences. With more than 3,800 students, Mary has locations in North Dakota, Montana, Arizona, Rome, Italy, as well as vibrant online offerings.