RWJBarnabas Health’s Institute for Nursing Excellence delivers systemwide nursing education through highly realistic simulation, hands-on training and emerging technology at two strategically located training hubs. The institute provides structured development led by nursing professional development practitioners and extends interprofessional training opportunities to teams across the state. A core differentiator is its systemwide approach to interprofessional simulations, delivered both at regional centers and in situ at hospitals, designed in close collaboration with local teams to maximize clinical relevance and impact. Simulation offerings include malignant hyperthermia and mock code scenarios across operating rooms, critical care and emergency departments, imminent delivery simulations in emergency departments without labor and delivery units, obstetrics complication simulations within labor and delivery, and mass casualty incident drills supported by integrated high-fidelity cases. The institute also strengthens educator capacity through its “Foundations of Simulation” course, now used for onboarding all new nursing professional development practitioners systemwide. In partnership with the critical care service line, the simulation team supports a central venous catheter insertion course to ensure all new residents and advanced practice providers demonstrate proficiency in this high-risk procedure before independent practice, contributing to reduced complication rates.
