Days before stepping across the stage in a cap and gown, St. Ambrose University's Presentation Sisters Department of Nursing seniors were in the thick of a disaster simulation. Designed to prepare students for the complexity, pressure, and teamwork required in real-world emergency care, they worked side-by-side with local emergency services agencies and MercyOne Genesis Health Systems.
“This experience was incredibly impactful to my learning,” said graduating senior Delia Schwartz ’26. “We got to witness how other disciplines, such as EMS and fire departments, respond to mass casualty incidents in real time.”
The simulation, which took place at the St. Ambrose University Center for Health Sciences Education and MercyOne Genesis West Campus, was a severe weather emergency scenario involving a multi-vehicle crash, numerous casualties, hospital surge conditions, emergency department triage, MedSurg patient management, and interagency coordination. Students practiced disaster response skills, including rapid assessment, START triage, patient prioritization, communication, resource allocation, and ethical decision-making.
“We got to learn what disaster management looks like after so many patients arrive,” Schwartz said. “We were managing the surge response in the ED and medical/surgical units. It was a great experience based on learning from each other and other first responders, which significantly strengthened our prioritization skills as future nurses.”
“This is the kind of learning experience that cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom,” said Katie Browning, DNP, RN, CNE, dean of the College of Health and Human Services. “Our nursing students will be asked to think critically, lead under pressure, communicate across disciplines and make patient-care decisions in a realistic emergency environment. That level of hands-on preparation is exactly what helps our St. Ambrose graduates enter the workforce with confidence, compassion and readiness.”
The exercise included nearly 90 St. Ambrose nursing students, who participated as both simulated victims and responders. Final-semester nursing students applied skills developed throughout the BSN curriculum, building on earlier learning experiences in emergency preparedness, patient-centered care, population health, clinical reasoning, and leadership.
St. Ambrose nursing students prepared for this experience through scaffolded learning across the program, including simulation, tabletop disaster exercises, emergency preparedness coursework, clinical experiences, and exposure to Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit settings. As part of the culminating exercise, students also engaged in a post-exercise “Hot Wash” debrief to evaluate strengths, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
“At St. Ambrose, we prepare students not only to earn a degree, but to become the kind of professionals who can respond with skill, courage, and care when people need them most,” said St. Ambrose University President Amy Novak, EdD. “This exercise reflects the distinctive value of an Ambrose education: rigorous academic preparation, meaningful community partnerships, and real-world learning rooted in service to others.”
Participating organizations included Scott County Emergency Management Agency, Scott County Medic Emergency Medical Services, Bettendorf Fire Department, Davenport Fire Department, MercyOne Genesis Health System, MercyOne Genesis EMS, and St. Ambrose University.
