$12.5 million from province will allow students to experience simulated real-life scenarios
By: Caleb Jutzi
The provincial government has committed more than $12.5 million toward a new Immersive Interdisciplinary Simulation Centre that will help students at Red River College Polytechnic’s Notre Dame Campus prepare for their future careers.
The new 16,630-square-foot Simulation Centre will be used by thousands of RRC Polytech students across 15 programs including nursing, paramedicine, and child and youth care.
The new centre will house a hospital ward with a triage station, a healthcare simulation room, an apartment setting, a phlebotomy laboratory, and an exam room for experiential learning. The centre will provide students with an opportunity to experience simulations of scenarios that they will face in their future careers including mock disasters and in-home emergencies.
“We are in a controlled, quiet environment,” said Josh Fast, 23, a second-year paramedicine student.
“Being able to simulate real-life situations is going to help us when we get into the industry,” Fast said.
Construction is already underway at RRC’S Notre Dame Campus, leaving students and healthcare workers excited for what this will bring to the industry. (Caleb Jutzi)
The Government of Manitoba’s focus is to better prepare the next generation of healthcare workers. The college hopes the centre will help RRC Polytech meet its goal of adding additional seats and better preparing students in the college’s healthcare programs.
“The Government of Manitoba’s investment is critical in providing career-ready graduates to meet labor market needs,” said Fred Meier, president and CEO of RRC Polytech, in a news release.
With a labor shortage affecting several industries throughout Winnipeg, qualified healthcare workers are in high demand.
“It will bridge that gap, preparing workplace-ready students,” said Joelle Blanchette, a registered nurse in Winnipeg.
Preliminary work on the building has already begun. RRC Polytech is currently acquiring new equipment and technology to put toward the centre, which is projected to take two years to complete.
