Instructional Resource Centre

The Instructional Resource Centre (IRC) provides a safe learning environment where students at all levels can gain confidence and experience in performing essential nursing competencies through simulated learning experiences.

The IRC lab rooms simulate the hospital and clinic environments.

Learning Labs

Learning labs are focused on the full continuum of nursing care including maternity, newborn, pediatric and adult simulated clients. Located on the first, ninth and basement floors of the Centre for Nursing Studies, the IRC is comprised of eight clinical lab rooms and 10 health assessment examination rooms.

Topics include:

Simulators

There are two multi-purpose rooms and one large simulation centre equipped with state-of-the-art medium and high fidelity simulators: 3 adult medium fidelity simulators and a high fidelity Noelle birthing simulator (with a Newborn Hal simulator).

The simulators are used in all our nursing programs. In addition, the IRC has modern task trainers such as the Chester Chest models (for teaching about central lines, subcutaneous access ports and PICC lines) and IV arms (for IV initiation and blood collection).

We also have electronic blood pressure and pulse-monitoring arms in addition to other task trainers and models for teaching skills such as catheterization, nasogastric tube insertion and wound care.

The IRC mannequins are culturally diverse and represent the lifespan including 10 adult, two older adults, three child and 15 newborn mannequins.

Bookings

Students can book the IRC learning labs in the evenings and on weekends when peer tutors are available to provide assistance and remediation. Student can also also sign out and borrow some practice equipment such as stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs.