Bishop-Parker Foundation grant advances hands-on training nursing students in Sarasota

• August 28, 2025
• Current News, Partnerships, Simulation Lab News

SARASOTA, Fla. - The University of South Florida (USF) College of Nursing has been awarded a $74,365 grant from the Bishop-Parker Foundation to upgrade its nursing simulation lab and instructional resources on the Sarasota-Manatee campus.

This investment will bring state-of-the-art technology and advanced training equipment to students enrolled in USF's accelerated second-degree nursing program. Each year, the enhanced lab will serve more than 100 nursing students, equipping them with real-world, hands-on skills to meet the healthcare needs of the growing and aging populations in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

"We are deeply grateful for the Bishop-Parker Foundation's support of this critical element of nursing education," said Usha Menon, PhD, RN, FAAN, FSBM, senior associate vice president at USF Health and dean of the University of South Florida College of Nursing. "This will have a lasting impact on our students and the communities they serve."

Simulation education is a vital component of nursing education, offering students a safe and controlled environment to practice critical skills before entering real-world clinical settings. Through high-fidelity mannequins, realistic scenarios, and hands-on technology, students can apply classroom knowledge, build clinical judgment, and gain confidence in their decision-making. Simulation also allows for repeated practice and immediate feedback, which strengthens competence and reduces errors. By mirroring real-life challenges nurses face at the bedside, simulation ensures graduates are better prepared to deliver safe, effective, and compassionate care to patients.