High-tech facilities created to keep pace with modern treatment environments

Miami has responded to these changes in the profession by expanding its Nursing Department and introducing new educational facilities that help meet the increasing demand for highly-trained nurses.

In 2022, Miami University Regionals opened its new Nursing Innovation Hub on the Hamilton campus. The hub features four fully-wired, high-technology classrooms, four high-fidelity simulation labs, a multi-bed skilled nursing area, and numerous student lounges, conference spaces, and staff offices.

After a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program was launched at the Oxford campus in 2018, the university developed a state-of-the-art health sciences facility to support the new program as well as other health sciences programs, such as physician associate studies, and speech pathology and audiology.

In 2023, the university opened the Clinical Health Sciences and Wellness facility, replacing the former Student and Employee Health Center. The 165,000-square-foot, $96 million facility includes high-tech classroom and lab space, plus medical exam and counseling rooms for student health needs.

Nursing Department chair Stephanie Nicely said the growth in the department is a reflection of the importance of nursing today, and the university’s response to meeting the rising demand for skilled direct care providers.

“We have a phenomenal undergraduate nursing program,” Nicely said. “We knew we could offer this to more students and expand our program’s reach. Our enrollment is increasing. Now we are seeing students from all over the country at the Oxford campus. Between our two campuses — at Hamilton and Oxford — we are meeting the need for nurses at the local and national levels.

“There is a significant need for nurses across the country,” she continued. “The COVID pandemic exemplified the need for skilled nurses who could care for the complex patients seen in our hospital systems. We understood the need for more nurses even before the global pandemic. We are now in a position to better address that need."

Graduates recruited for their education and skills

Miami’s reputation for excellence in nursing education means Miami’s Nursing graduates are sought-after job candidates in local and national hospitals and healthcare businesses.

“We push our students to be innovative problem solvers,” Nicely said. “We want them to think creatively and become advocates for their patients. Our faculty model this by being committed to our students’ success. They then show that same dedication to their patients.”

Miami nursing graduates work in some of the leading healthcare organizations in the region, with approximately 10 percent of graduates going to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the nation’s No. 1 children’s hospital. Healthcare leaders say they value the quality of education at Miami and trust Miami’s graduates to be job-ready after graduation.

Nathanael Chaney, director of nursing at McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital (TriHealth), said he has strong confidence in Miami Nursing students at his hospital.

“Miami has expanded not only its capacity for enrollment but also its simulation program with the addition of the new Health Sciences building and remodeling of the Hamilton campus,” Chaney said. “The opportunity to simulate specialty areas such as Med-Surg, ICU, OR, OB, and Psychiatric units stands out for Miami as compared to other education programs. Additionally, partnering with health systems and hospitals to create dedicated education units is an example of Miami leading the way in growing the nursing pipeline and addressing the nursing shortage.”

Brooke Flinders, former Nursing Department chair and current associate provost for faculty affairs at Miami, said the Nursing Department has developed strong partnerships with local healthcare organizations to bring expert faculty to teach its nursing students.

“Without a medical school on campus to work with for our clinical training, we’ve had to reach out to area healthcare networks to partner with them for our students’ clinical experience,” she said. “This has meant our students get experience with multiple health systems, leading to a well-rounded graduate.”

Students feel a strong sense of belonging at Miami

While much has changed in more than 55 years of nursing education at Miami, one thing has remained the same: Students love the program. Miami RN graduates have returned to Miami to earn their BSN, and now their MSN degrees. And many of Miami’s nursing faculty are former Miami students.

Catherine Johnson, who graduated from Miami Regionals’ BSN program in 2015, said she postponed her master’s in Nursing until Miami opened its MSN program for enrollment.

“Miami’s program is very competitive and has a great reputation,” she said. “I wanted to keep my pedigree. Miami’s Nursing Department doesn’t just prepare you for the medical side of nursing, they also prepare you for the spiritual and emotional side of nursing care. It’s a holistic model curriculum. Other programs don’t emphasize that model as much as Miami does.”

Looking back from the perspective of her long career as a nurse, Whitehill said she understands now more than ever how vital nurses are to the healthcare industry.

“Patients don’t come to the hospital to see their doctor every day,” Whitehill said. “They come because the level of care required to help their bodies heal requires the skill, knowledge, and care delivered by the professional registered nurse. We make all levels of care better and have a positive impact in all that we do.”