Nursing program welcomes helicopter simulation center

Tyler—The University of Texas at Tyler School of Nursing hosted the ribbon cutting of the new Helicopter Critical Care Transport Simulations Center, designed to train nurses and paramedics in the skill of critical care transportation. The program is the second medical flight program in the country with a clinical flight simulator and the only one to train both nurses and paramedics. 

“At UT Tyler, our mission is linked to the well-being of East Texas,” said Dr. Jenifer Chilton, School of Nursing dean. “In everything we do, we let the specific needs of our community guide our programs and training. By launching this simulation center, we are not just advancing nursing education; we are directly responding to the unique geographic challenges of our region and ensuring that our neighbors in even the most rural areas have access to the highest level of critical care.” 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 56 percent of East Texas’ residents live in rural areas, the largest percentage of any region in the state. With most of the population spread across thousands of square miles, having a highly trained flight medical crew is vitally important. Both nurses and paramedics in the program participate in simulations as a team, shadow onboard actual helicopters and complete a variety of clinical rotations. 

“As far as I’m aware, this is the only flight program in the nation that includes this depth of instruction and breadth of clinical rotations, and the only of its kind that trains both paramedics and nurses,” said Dr. Carlton Rojas, the UT Tyler School of Nursing critical care transportation education director. “This program will revolutionize the way we train our flight crews, throughout the region, the state and the nation.” 

The two-semester continuing education program, delivered in a hybrid format, accepts paramedics and registered nurses. Students will participate in online lectures, exams, assignments and skills and simulation training. 

SOURCE University of Texas at Tyler