About the Smart Hospital

In 2021, UTA began building the School of Social Work/College of Nursing and Health Innovation Smart Hospital Building, a new facility that will unite the University’s celebrated School of Social Work (SSW) under one roof and will house the College of Nursing and Health Innovation’s (CONHI) modernized Smart Hospital, a training space that includes mock patient rooms and medical robots.

The 150,000-square-foot facility is a mix of flexible, state-of-the-art, technology-enriched learning spaces; teaching and research labs; student engagement, study, and support spaces; faculty and staff offices; and the Smart Hospital simulation learning center.

The Smart Hospital facilities include state of the science hospital furnishings (beds, headwalls, nurse stations, and call systems) and equipment (Pyxis™ medication and supply stations with supporting inventory system software, Alaris™ IV pumps, ventilators, a large inventory of task trainers and devices to aide in patient positioning and transfer.  These support the Smart Hospital’s mission by providing a real-hospital learning environment. Advanced virtual simulation applications are ready for the students’ hands-on skills practices in our multi-station computer lab.

Smart Hospital Educational Commitment

UT Arlington College of Nursing and Health Innovation is a leader in innovation using educational models that prepare nurses who effectively and quickly integrate into the healthcare workforce, are life-long learners, and are poised to assume leadership in improving quality and safety of care.

The Smart Hospital a national leader in simulation based learning in nursing, is to the student nurse what a flight simulator is to a student pilot. For undergraduate and graduate students, the College of Nursing and Health Innovation is committed to integration of simulation into the overall curriculum to overcome the “learning by random opportunity” associated with traditional clinical rotations. Simulation enhanced clinical education, developed and delivered by expert faculty, facilitates each student’s ability to think critically and to develop confidence and competency in clinical skills to provide safe quality care.

Igloo Immersion Room

• Provides a 360-degree immersive simulation environment that allows UTA nursing students—especially those training for rural practice—to experience realistic clinical scenarios in a controlled, supportive setting.
• Prepares students for the unique challenges of rural healthcare through customizable simulations focused on limited-resource environments, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Enhances clinical readiness and confidence for students and practicing nurses, bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world rural healthcare delivery.
• For more information on bringing the MSL out to your rural community, please contact Jill Whitfill directly, [email protected].

Smart Hospital Mission Statement

The University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing and Health Innovation Smart Hospital is committed to providing high quality simulation-based experiences that prepare a diverse population of future health professionals to provide safe quality healthcare and enhance patient outcomes.

Smart Hospital Vision Statement

The University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing and Health Innovation Smart Hospital aims to advance the quality of simulation healthcare education through the use of state-of-the-art instruction, technology and the development of simulation education research.