Simulation and Clinical Education

Practice-Ready Through Clinicals and Simulation

At Creighton, you learn by doing.  

Nursing and paramedicine students gain hands-on clinical experience and train in advanced simulation labs in the CL and Rachel Werner Center for Health Sciences Education and Creighton University Health Sciences Campus - Phoenix.  

Through cutting-edge virtual reality technology and highly realistic clinical simulations, students build confidence and clinical judgment in emotionally authentic scenarios before caring for patients in real-world settings. Beginning sophomore year, nursing students practice core skills such as vital signs monitoring, developing the assurance and competence required to deliver exceptional care.

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Students using simulation screens

Learning Through Advanced Simulation

By practicing without risk to patients, students learn from real-world scenarios and strengthen their skills through guided repetition and reflection.

Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing students begin low-fidelity simulation in the spring semester of their sophomore year and advance to high-fidelity simulation in their junior and senior year. Using virtual reality, advanced manikins and standardized patients, they develop applied skills, critical thinking and compassionate, practice-ready care.

Paramedicine students develop their critical thinking and decision-making skills through varied simulation experiences. Students participate in Interprofessional Medical Emergency Simulations (IMES), simulated mass casualty incident (MCI) and immersive VR simulations that build confidence and competence. 

Immersed in Real-World Clinical Experience

From the hospital bedside to the front lines of emergency response, your clinical education places you where care is delivered and lives are changed.
Nursing students in clinicals

Nursing Clinicals

With extensive direct patient care experiences, you’ll graduate ready for a range of meaningful nursing careers. Traditional students complete more than 1,000 clinical hours, while accelerated students complete more than 900, gaining workforce-ready experience across six specialty areas. Specialties include community and population health, critical care, labor and delivery/obstetrics, medical-surgical, pediatrics, and psychiatric and mental health. Through our clinical partnerships, students participate in preceptorships at some of the nation’s largest hospitals as well as rural and specialty healthcare settings.
Paramedicine students in ambulance

Paramedicine Clinicals

Expand your clinical perspective through paramedicine experiences that place you directly in the field. Working alongside local fire departments, ambulance services and hospital clinical units, students provide direct patient care under the guidance of fully trained paramedic preceptors during scheduled shifts. As part of the degree program, students complete a capstone experience with Omaha Fire Department, Papillion Fire Department or Council Bluffs Fire Department, further strengthening their clinical judgment, teamwork and leadership in high-acuity environments.

Clinical Sites for Nursing Students

Omaha Sites

  • CHI Health sites
  • Methodist Health System
  • Children’s Nebraska
  • Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital
  • Ambassador Health Omaha
  • Omaha VA Medical Center
  • Community-based sites

Phoenix Sites

  • CommonSpirit Health sites
  • Valleywise Health
  • Phoenix Children’s Hospital
  • Community-based sites

Clinical Sites for Paramedicine Students

Omaha Sites

  • Omaha Fire Department
  • Papillion Fire Department
  • Bellevue Fire Department
  • Council Bluffs Fire Department
  • Lincoln Fire & Rescue
  • Emergency departments in all CHI hospitals in Omaha and Council Bluffs
  • Respiratory, operating room, labor and delivery and ICU specialty areas at CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center – Bergan Mercy

A Partnership That Expands Your Clinical Reach

Through our partnership with CommonSpirit Health, students gain experience in some of the region’s most respected healthcare settings in Omaha and Phoenix.  

You’ll care for patients alongside experienced healthcare professionals and interdisciplinary teams, while building confidence in high-acuity hospitals, specialty units and community-based environments.

CHI Health, our primary clinical partner in Nebraska, is part of the CommonSpirit Health network, which includes 140 hospitals and more than 1,000 care sites across 21 states. Common clinical placements include:

  • CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center – Bergan Mercy in Omaha
  • CHI Health – Immanuel
  • CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center – University Campus in Omaha
  • CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island
  • Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix 
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CommonSpirit logo