UTPB School of Nursing and Midland Health expand partnership, Sim lab to be renamed

The University of Texas Permian Basin and Midland Health are excited to announce an expanded partnership to support the School of Nursing at UT Permian Basin. Thanks to a financial commitment from Midland Health, UTPB will be able to renovate and enhance the SIM Lab, which will be renamed to The Midland Health Simulation and Learning Resource Center at UTPB.

“Partnering with our local healthcare providers is essential in meeting the needs for both students and staff,” said Dr. Minerva Gonzales, Associate Dean for The College of Health Sciences and Human Performance. “This expansion to our already existing partnership strengthens our abilities to better serve the people of the Permian Basin.”

The expansion of this partnership between Midland Health and UT Permian Basin will benefit students, nurses, and patients in this region. Having the ability to train students and nursing staff with high-tech, real-life equipment in the simulation lab will lead to greater care at the bedside. Medical technology advances rapidly, so students need to have the ability to learn new techniques and procedures in a structured environment. Nurses from Midland Health will also be able to advance their skills and learn to use new medical equipment through the state-of-the-art simulation lab. 

“As we produce more nurses in the region, we will need additional clinical space to train new and experienced staff. I am excited about the opportunity to continue growing the knowledge and expertise of our nursing workforce in the Permian Basin through this innovative partnership,” said Dr. Kit Bredimus, Chief Nursing Officer/VP Nursing at Midland Health.

In September 2021, UT Permian Basin and Midland Health announced a partnership that allows fourth-semester nursing students, who are currently in the MMH Nursing Intern Program, to work on the floor alongside nurses during their clinical hours, which are required to graduate. It provides relief to current nurses who are dealing with significant staffing challenges due to COVID-19 and allows UTPB nursing students to gain more confidence with additional hands-on learning. The nursing students are also compensated for their work.