UB Nursing Graduate Credits Simulation for Real-World Readiness

Shania Kirton, a 2023 graduate of UB’s traditional bachelor’s in nursing program, has practiced in the emergency department at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst since January 2024. In the fast-paced, high-pressure environment, she says the School of Nursing’s simulation training has helped her stay composed and focused during critical moments.

“I’m so grateful for nursing because it has shaped me into the person that I am today,” Kirton said.

Her path to nursing wasn’t straightforward. Kirton arrived at UB as a civil engineering major, drawn to math, science and problem-solving. But from a young age, she also gravitated toward caregiving. A YouTube video about nursing sparked her curiosity – and ultimately led her to change majors.

Now, as a practicing nurse, Kirton sees how much that decision and her education at UB prepared her for the realities of the job. Earlier this year, Kirton contacted James Cozza, clinical instructor and simulation coordinator, to share how the patient death simulation training he facilitated helped her feel prepared for some of her most challenging moments in the ER.

Kirton recalled how she felt as a student during the simulation.

“This is fake, but this feels real,” she explained. “It felt like a real feeling in your body.”

When Kirton was caring for a patient with a life-threatening condition earlier this year, she felt prepared.

“I experienced the same shock,” she said. “I took my deep breaths.” She added that her colleagues were instrumental in helping her with the emotional heaviness of those high-stress situations.

Kirton emphasized the importance of prioritizing patient safety and maintaining clear communication with their families during visiting hours. When engaging with patient family members, she explained that it is important to “collaborate instead of segregate” as part of a holistic approach to patient care.

Sharpening her communication skills has been one unanticipated aspect of her nursing career thus far.

“Learning Spanish was unexpected, but I loved it.”

Although she initially found the communication barrier with Spanish-speaking patients frustrating, she discovered that mindfulness and gratitude led her to enjoy learning the language and connecting with patients. She explained that practicing mindfulness through journaling has bolstered her nursing practice.

“A self-care practice I swear by is gratitude … [journaling] that’s a form of mindfulness,” she said. “Just sitting there, writing, looking, being intentional about what you’re seeing and what you’re grateful for and feeling the good thoughts … I think that plays into my work because patients can feel my energy.”

During her time at UB, Kirton’s drive extended beyond the classroom. She and teammate Mary Gannon, a biomedical engineering student, earned second place in the Health Futures Challenge, a pitch competition for UB students, faculty and community members to present innovative ideas that benefit the health economy.

Their concept, “Drive,” proposed a swipe card system that would store a patient’s lab work and allow providers to access the results directly from the card. Kirton’s success in the competition demonstrates her inventive and entrepreneurial spirit and her interest in improving how patient care is delivered.

At the start of her nursing career, she values the strong connections she built with her fellow nursing students at UB.

“I’m grateful for the friends I made in nursing school because we’re all nurses,” she said. “We get the struggle. We all study together. We understand.”

BY SHANNON O'SULLIVAN