With a grant from Avera, Lake Area Technical College is expanding and remodeling its existing nursing simulation lab with improved equipment and technology.
Tracy Buisker is the Foundation Executive Director at Lake Area Technical College. Buisker said the new lab located at Pierre's Capital City Campus will feature advanced manikins and high-tech medical equipment that prepares students to enter the workforce.
"It mimics essentially a real life, real world experience," said Buisker. "And we do that so before they get out into industry, they're able to practice those skillsets and really get a hands-on experience before being with patients in that real life setting."
Avera St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre also plans to use the new nursing simulation center for employee development, and the lab will support career outreach to local high school students.
According to data from the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, health care workers, especially Registered Nurses, are projected to be one of the most in-demand jobs in the state over the next several years.
Buisker said the new simulation center will help build the next generation of health care workers by giving younger people more career exploration opportunities.
"Just really getting them exposure to the health care fields gives them a really great opportunity to see what their potential could be," said Buisker. "And we have a lot of offerings here at Lake Area Tech, in addition to our practical nursing and our registered nursing, where students can get a hands-on feel of what it might look like to be in that particular career field."
The new nursing simulation center is expected to be completed in early January by the start of the 2026 spring semester.
