Our Facilities Overview

Two nursing students walk through a School of Nursing facility

The School of Nursing community has access to two facilities designed to foster research, hands-on simulations, and teamwork among health professionals. The School of Nursing's 11,000 square foot Bentson Healthy Communities Innovation Center offers simulation environments across the continuum of care. Interprofessional teamwork among health professionals is supported by the state-of-the-art Health Sciences Education Center.

Bentson Healthy Communities Innovation Center

The Bentson Center is an 11,000-square-foot learning simulation environment for nursing education, research, professional development and interprofessional cooperation located in Weaver-Densford Hall. It is designed to reflect the future of health care delivery and nursing science. It includes:

  • State-of-the-art technology: Sophisticated high-tech facilities, integration of electronic health records and use of supportive technologies including mobile records systems and telehealth technology. Thirty-eight cameras make possible the observation, recording and review of simulations and exercises.
  • Simulated environments that span the continuum of care: including acute, critical, surgical, skilled, ambulatory and home care settings.
  • Designed for optimal team education and training experiences involving a range of health care professionals. The space was carefully planned by an inter-professional team for optimal training and education.
  • Opportunities for the health care community: The School of Nursing welcomes community collaboration. Organizations may use the facility to simulate large-scale scenarios for training of hospital or community staff. Other organizations may be more interested in research, development and testing of products and processes in a contemporary health care environment.

The Bentson Center is Available for External Use

The Bentson Healthy Communities Innovation Center is available for training, simulations, filming and other appropriate uses. The Bentson Center is located on the University of Minnesota's East Bank, and is designed to reflect the future of health care delivery and nursing science. Contact us for more information.

Active learning lab at bentson healthy communities innovation center
Classroom space at Bentson Healthy Communities Innovation Center
Home Environments A and B at Bentson Healthy Communities Innovation Center
Health Sciences Education Center

Health Sciences Education Center

The Health Science Education Center (HSEC) is a state-of-the-art facility designed to transform health education in Minnesota. As one of the most comprehensive interprofessional education facilities in the country, the HSEC is the premier training site for tomorrow's health professional. the HSEC improves student experience with:

  • active learning environments replacing traditional lecture halls
  • high-tech, high-touch simulation environments for learning and practicing in real-world conditions
  • places to connect, collaborate, and communicate across disciplines