Frank & Stevie Raiti Nursing Simulation Center uses advanced simulation education to train nurses of tomorrow
From staff reports
The Technical College of the Lowcountry recently dedicated its new state-of-the-art nursing simulation center during a Sept. 25 event held at its Beaufort Mather Campus.
Named The Frank and Stevie Raiti Nursing Simulation Center, the new center is designed to train the nurses of tomorrow and was made possible by a generous gift from longtime TCL supporters, Frank and Stephanie “Stevie” Raiti, of Hilton Head Island. The Raitis also established the Joseph Raiti Memorial Scholarship in Practical Nursing at TCL.
The Raitis, who were on hand for Thursday’s dedication and unveiling along with faculty and staff from the college and members of the community, said they were “thrilled” to attend the event and in their investment in nursing education.
“We invest in TCL because we see the need in our community,” they said in an earlier statement. “And we have witnessed TCL’s commitment to meet that need through dedicated instruction and pragmatic management of all their resources, both human and fiscal. TCL is a great resource for our community, and we are happy to support their efforts to provide a well-trained workforce that is so vital at this time.”
Located in the Health Sciences building on the college’s Beaufort Mather campus, the roughly 625-square-foot space consists of two mock hospital rooms, classroom space, a control room with new software and technology, and mechanized mannequins that stand in for patients. The center uses simulation-based learning combined with advanced technology to provide realistic clinical scenarios for nursing students who may perform such clinical tasks as CPR, patient assessments or medication administration during the scenarios.
TCL President Richard Gough told those who gathered for the dedication that the Raitis always “had a heart” for workforce development and technical school education.
“They are not just supporters in talk but in financial support as well,” he said. He went on to say that the center would have a “generational impact” – not only on the lives of the students it trained, but on those they would go on to treat and care for.
Interim Dean for TCL’s School of Nursing Vandy Amason echoed Dr. Gough’s remarks saying the Raitis’ contribution already has had a “transformative impact” on TCL’s nursing program. The center is “so much more than equipment and spaces,” she added.
“It’s a dynamic learning environment where future nurses will gain the confidence, competence and critical thinking skills they need to provide exceptional care,” she said. “Practicing in a safe and controlled environment helps students feel more prepared and less anxious before they go into clinical settings. Students report feeling more prepared and empowered, and faculty are thrilled to integrate advance simulation into their teaching.”
To learn more about TCL’s nursing or other health sciences programs and majors, visit www.tcl.edu/academics/pathways/health-sciences.
