RCC Opens New Nursing Simulation Lab Five Times Larger Than Previous Facility
New $3 million facility expands clinical training opportunities to help prepare the next generation of nurses
SUFFERN, NY — Rockland Community College (RCC) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony today to mark the opening of its new $3 million Nursing Simulation Lab. The state-of-the-art facility, which opened for the Fall 2026 semester, significantly expands hands-on training opportunities for nursing students and helps prepare the next generation of nurses for in-demand health care careers.
Funded through the federal 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, the new laboratory is five times larger than RCC’s previous simulation area. Located on the second floor of the college’s Technology Building, the 5,234-square-foot lab includes a special simulation wing designed to replicate real clinical settings, giving students the opportunity to practice essential nursing skills in a controlled but realistic environment.
“The new nursing laboratory is an important investment in our students and the future of health care in Rockland County. As the demand for skilled nurses continues to grow, RCC is committed to preparing graduates with the skills and confidence they need to succeed,” said Dr. William Mullaney, president of Rockland Community College. “This state-of-the-art learning environment will give our students expanded opportunities to practice those skills and prepare for careers in health care.”
“Our responsibility as nurse educators is to prepare students to provide safe, skilled care in real-world clinical settings. This expanded simulation laboratory gives students the opportunity to practice responding to complex situations and strengthen their clinical judgment and communication skills,” said Sara Annunziato, Dean of Nursing, Health and Wellness, Business and Professional Studies. “By integrating advanced simulation into their education, we are helping students build the competence and confidence they need to succeed on their licensing exams and enter the nursing profession prepared to care for patients.”
Hospital-Lifelike Training on Campus
The new simulation lab includes high-fidelity simulators capable of reproducing complex patient conditions and physiological reactions, including childbirth, seizures and medical emergencies. Among them is “MamaAnne,” a maternal simulator that helps train health care teams to identify and manage critical, high-risk obstetric emergencies and prepare nurses to respond to the leading causes of maternal mortality.
The facility also incorporates new technology and learning tools, including a virtual reality program that gives students immersive clinical training experiences and a live anatomy table that enables them to explore human anatomy in an interactive, three-dimensional environment.
With more than 515 nursing students currently enrolled in RCC’s nursing program, the expanded simulation capacity will allow the college to run multiple scenarios back-to-back, giving more students the opportunity to gain repeated, skill-building practice in a safe environment.
A Highly Regarded Program
RCC’s nursing program is recognized for its strong results. In 2025, NursingProcess.org ranked it No. 1 among 153 associate degree nursing programs in New York State approved by the State Board of Nursing. In addition, RCC nursing students have achieved a 94 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination over the past five years, higher than both the national and New York State averages.
The new Nursing Simulation Lab will give RCC nursing students greater access to advanced simulation technology and hands-on training as they prepare for clinical practice and careers in health care.