Bladen Community College awarded NC AHEC funding to advance simulation-based nursing education

By Staff Report, posted Oct 6, 2026 on BizFayetteville.com

Photo courtesy of Bladen Community College

Bladen Community College has been awarded funding from the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers (NC AHEC) to support a Clinical Site Development project focused on optimizing simulation in nursing education. The initiative will enhance simulation-based learning to deliver targeted clinical experiences designed to prepare nursing students for high-need practice areas across the region.

By strengthening clinical judgment, technical skills and decision-making in a controlled environment, simulation provides students with valuable preparation for real-world patient care. This project helps equip future nurses to serve diverse and underserved populations. It also supports efforts to increase access to high-quality clinical training opportunities amid growing demand for healthcare professionals. NC AHEC supports this initiative as part of its statewide effort to strengthen clinical education capacity and address the growing need for a well-prepared nursing workforce.

The enhancements come at an important time as Bladen Community College continues to grow its nursing programs, including the Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing programs and the College’s new hybrid LPN-to-RN pathway. Increased clinical laboratory capacity allows the College to better support that growth while providing students with additional opportunities to practice patient-care techniques before applying those skills in clinical settings.

“Strong clinical preparation is critical to developing confident, capable nurses,” said Director of Nursing & Allied Health Dr. Michelle Norris in a press release. “The additional simulation space and equipment give our students more opportunities to learn, practice and apply their skills in a supportive environment. This investment strengthens our programs and ultimately benefits the patients and communities our graduates will serve.”

The NC AHEC Clinical Site Development grant provides resources to strengthen clinical education opportunities and expand access to quality learning environments for students preparing for healthcare careers.

For more information about nursing programs at Bladen Community College, visit BladenCC.edu or call 910-879-5500.

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