Thiel College nursing students will gain cutting-edge experience with new simulators and labs

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College has been awarded nearly $200,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission to expand its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, strengthening the region’s healthcare workforce and addressing critical nursing shortages in northwestern Pennsylvania.

The three-year, $399,836 initiative will modernize labs and classrooms in the Daniel and Dorothy Spence Academic Center, adding state-of-the-art simulation and skills training equipment for nursing students. ARC funding of $199,918, which the College by its application through the Northwest Commission, will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the College.

The project builds on Thiel’s 2024 approval from the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing to operate an independent BSN program. The BSN program also received accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education in October 2024.

“This investment ensures Thiel College can continue training highly skilled nurses at a time when Pennsylvania faces one of the most pressing healthcare shortages in its history,” Vice President for Academic Affairs Sheila Nowinski, Ph.D. said. “By providing advanced simulation labs and hands-on clinical experiences, we are preparing graduates to deliver exceptional patient care across the region.”

The grant will fund a suite of advanced training tools, including:

• adult patient simulator
• pediatric patient simulator
• infant patient simulator
• chest drain simulator
• automated medicine dispensing cabinet

Patient beds, monitors, IV stands, crash carts, and anatomical models will be purchased with grant funds to fully outfit the College’s skills labs.

Key outcomes of the project include:

• 100 nursing students served through new labs and equipment during the grant period.
• 90 students completing enhanced simulation-based training, with projected first-time National Council Licensure Examination pass rates of 90% or higher
• Near-100% job placement for program graduates within six months of licensure, supported by regional hospital partnerships

Thiel’s BSN program is housed in the Daniel and Dorothy Spence Academic Center alongside physician assistant and exercise science programs, creating an integrated clinical training hub. Students gain experience not only through simulation labs but also at regional partners, including UPMC Horizon, Meadville Medical Center, Bon Secours Mercy Health, and St. Paul’s Senior Living Community.

Thiel’s program is a response to statewide and national healthcare needs. Pennsylvania is projected to face a shortage of more than 20,000 nurses by 2026, with vacancy rates as high as 30% in some facilities, according to the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania. Nationally, the RN workforce is expected to see a 10% shortfall by 2027.

“Thiel College has a long record of preparing graduates for meaningful careers. This grant ensures our students will train with cutting-edge resources and enter the workforce ready to meet urgent community needs. We’re grateful to the Northwest Commission for its guidance through the ARC application process,” said Roberta Leonard, vice president for college advancement.

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