{"id":1381,"date":"2026-06-22T09:48:36","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T16:48:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/?p=1381"},"modified":"2026-06-22T09:51:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T16:51:56","slug":"university-of-the-fraser-valleys-new-experiential-learning-lab-enhances-nurse-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/university-of-the-fraser-valleys-new-experiential-learning-lab-enhances-nurse-education\/","title":{"rendered":"University of the Fraser Valley\u2019s new experiential learning lab enhances nurse education"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post was originally published here<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) is opening an Experiential Learning Lab (ELL) on its Chilliwack campus, a flexible learning space with a layout and technology that mimic a health-care clinical environment.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Historically, nursing students have benefited from experiential learning in hospitals, clinics, and laboratory settings. But with nursing shortages and more patients to care for, health practitioners are less able to provide students with appropriate learning opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n

By creating the ELL, UFV offers a setting\u00a0where students can develop their critical thinking and psychomotor skills\u00a0before heading out for a clinical practicum.\u00a0Having\u00a0been exposed to controlled, realistic, intentionally\u00a0focused\u00a0learning experiences\u00a0in the ELL,\u00a0they are better equipped for a real-world setting.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEnhancing engagement and bridging theory and practice, simulation-based learning in the lab supports students as they transition into professional practice and strengthens their ability to provide safe, effective care for individuals, families, and communities,\u201d says\u00a0Cindy Schultz,\u00a0Associate\u00a0Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lee-Anne Stephen (middle) gives a tour of UFV Chilliwack\u2019s new experiential learning lab.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The ELL is the result of a successful funding proposal\u00a0submitted\u00a0to and approved by the\u00a0Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

Minister\u00a0Jessie Sunner\u00a0says\u00a0the government\u00a0is proud to support UFV in creating the\u00a0ELL, a space that gives students hands-on, real-world preparation for careers in health care.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBy expanding access to high-quality training opportunities in the Fraser Valley and across the province,\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0helping more people gain the experience they need to enter the workforce with confidence,\u201d she says. \u201cThis will help strengthen B.C.\u2019s health-care workforce and improve care for patients in communities across the province.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Enrolment in UFV\u2019s health studies programs continues to rise, and the ELL accommodates current and future growth.\u00a0<\/span>Lee-Anne Stephen, Director of UFV\u2019s School of Health Studies, says that in order to provide high-quality learning experiences, UFV needs to keep current in the experiential learning opportunities provided to students.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLearning in this lab will assist\u00a0us\u00a0in\u00a0responding to the different ways our students learn,\u00a0supporting\u00a0diverse learning approaches and student success,\u00a0and\u00a0reinforcing\u00a0UFV\u2019s commitment to accessible, innovative, and transformative educational experiences.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Internally, Stephen says the ELL creates opportunities to engage with other departments across UFV, offering institution-wide experiential learning opportunities that break down teaching silos.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStudents\u2019\u00a0learning is improved when they learn together, and the creation of this space will allow for collaboration and connection across programs as students work as a team,\u201d she notes.\u00a0\u201cOne of the keys to safe patient care is working as part of a team, which is challenging to consistently replicate in the clinical setting. This learning space will provide us with the opportunity to teach our students more effectively how to work as part of a team for better patient outcomes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Externally,\u00a0Stephen\u00a0says the ELL will\u00a0create opportunities to\u00a0expand\u00a0and enhance partnerships. with\u00a0health\u00a0authorities and other educational\u00a0institutions.\u00a0\u00a0to\u00a0provide\u00a0training that further supports\u00a0learners\u2019\u00a0development of clinical knowledge and skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBy welcoming internal and external partners into the ELL \u2014 including health authorities, Indigenous partners,\u00a0other post-secondary partners,\u00a0government representatives, donors, alumni, and community leaders \u2014 the ELL strengthens meaningful relationships and creates opportunities for collaboration, applied research, and action-oriented projects that support improved health outcomes across the region,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ELL,\u00a0Schultz\u00a0adds, is also a response to\u00a0one of\u00a0the Truth and Reconciliation Commission\u2019s Calls\u00a0to Action\u00a0(63.3),\u00a0<\/span>building\u00a0student capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy, and mutual respect<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen developing the space and creating learning opportunities within the space we will be collaborating with our Indigenous partners, Teaching and Learning specialists, and students,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0says. \u201cSimulation, as a teaching strategy, aligns closely with the First People\u2019s Principles of Learning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Click here to learn more about experiential learning at UFV.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This post was originally published here The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) is opening an Experiential Learning Lab (ELL) on its Chilliwack campus, a flexible learning space with a layout and technology that mimic a health-care clinical environment.\u00a0\u00a0 Historically, nursing students have benefited from experiential learning in hospitals, clinics, and laboratory settings. But with … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":280,"featured_media":1384,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"generate_page_header":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[71,12,103,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-events","category-experiential-learning","category-nursing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/280"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1381"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1381\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1387,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1381\/revisions\/1387"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1384"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}