Partnering to Maximize Simulation-Based Learning: Nursing Regional Interdisciplinary Simulation Centers

The Upper Rio Grande Texas Schools of Nursing Regional Partnership, which is composed of the University of Texas at El Paso School of Nursing, Texas Tech University Health Science Center School of Nursing at El Paso, and the El Paso Community College School of Nursing, received American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding under the Texas Tech University Health Science Center's umbrella to establish four Nursing Regional Interdisciplinary Simulation Centers (NRISC) in 2009. The NRISC were established as a partnership between the schools of nursing and four El Paso, TX, hospitals: Del Sol Medical Center, Sierra Medical Center, University Medical Center of El Paso, and Las Palmas Medical Center. This unique and innovative partnership had the following outcomes: (a) increased capacity to produce more nurses and (b) increased synergy among all the partners in relation to the use of simulation-based learning.