The Johns Hopkins simulation program has served as a cornerstone of the educational experience for Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNAs), delivering a cutting-edge, immersive learning environment. Seamlessly integrated throughout the curriculum, simulation supports the achievement of program objectives from the very first year of our DNP Nurse Anesthesia specialty.

Through simulation, students safely practice high-risk, high-stakes interventions—building confidence, sharpening clinical judgment, and ultimately advancing patient safety without risk to real patients.

State-of-the-Art Labs. Real-World Experiences.

Our advanced simulation labs feature high-fidelity, full-body adult and pediatric patient simulators that replicate real-time anatomy, physiology, and treatment responses. These experiences are designed to mirror authentic clinical environments, including:

Operating rooms
Intensive care units
Emergency and trauma settings

Students gain hands-on experience with anesthesia machines, ultrasound and POCUS technology, airway equipment, and more, effectively bridging the gap between classroom knowledge and clinical practice.

Technology Supporting Experiential Learning in Anesthesia

Our program features advanced technology that reflects the contemporary anesthesia practice environment, elevating experiential learning and clinical readiness. Students train with advanced ultrasound platforms, including GE Venue and SonoSite systems, and have access to multiple anesthesia machines that mirror those used in modern operating rooms. Airway management is enhanced through comprehensive exposure to cutting-edge devices, including hand-held video laryngoscopes, GlideScopes, fiberoptic bronchoscopes, and VivaSight double-lumen tubes with integrated visualization capabilities, fostering technical precision in high-stakes scenarios. Additionally, regional anesthesia is supported through advanced simulators, including an AI-enabled needle guidance system and dedicated task trainers, allowing students to develop procedural proficiency in a controlled environment prior to clinical practice.

Learn more about additional Simulation & Immersive Learning programs at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing.

Virtual Reality: Training Without Limits

Our program extends beyond the simulation lab through innovative Virtual Reality (VR) integration. VR offers students the flexibility to engage in realistic simulations anytime, anywhere—including:

Anesthesia machine checkouts
Rare intraoperative emergencies
Procedural and critical event management

This self-paced learning approach empowers students to build confidence, enhance critical thinking, and refine technical skills before entering the clinical environment. Through a dynamic blend of high-fidelity simulation, interdisciplinary learning, and virtual innovation, our program prepares SRNAs to deliver safe, effective, and patient-centered anesthesia care from day one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Students are introduced to simulation at the very beginning of the DNP Nurse Anesthesia program. Simulation is intentionally integrated throughout the curriculum, allowing learners to progressively build clinical skills, confidence, and decision-making abilities in a structured and supportive environment.

Students participate in a wide range of simulations from low-risk to high-risk scenarios that reflect real clinical practice across the lifespan. These include emergencies such as malignant hyperthermia, difficult airway management, unstable cardiac rhythms, pediatric and obstetric crises. Each experience is designed to enhance skills, critical thinking, teamwork, and professionalism.

Our program features state-of-the-art simulation labs equipped with high-fidelity adult and pediatric simulators that replicate real-time physiologic responses. The environments mirror authentic clinical settings—including operating rooms, intensive care units, and emergency scenarios—and provide hands-on access to anesthesia machines, ultrasound/POCUS technology, and advanced airway equipment. Additionally, our program is distinguished by its strong, collaborative partnerships with CRNAs across our diverse clinical sites. Students engage with experienced preceptors from the very beginning of their training, creating a meaningful bridge between simulation and clinical practice. Through these early interactions in simulation, students develop professional rapport and clinical confidence, which enhances their readiness as they transition into the clinical environment. This integrated approach provides a unique and immersive learning experience.

Simulation allows students to practice complex procedures and manage critical events in a safe, low-risk environment. Through repeated exposure, structured debriefing, and interdisciplinary collaboration, students develop confidence, refine technical and non-technical skills (e.g., leadership and communication), and are better prepared to provide safe, patient-centered anesthesia care in real clinical settings.