PROVIDENCE — Monday morning, U.S. Senator Jack Reed is scheduled to go to Rhode Island College and announce that more than $280,000 in federal financing is coming to the college’s School of Nursing, to upgrade a laboratory that simulates a real-world hospital setting.

Students will use the lab to learn about patient care and receive training in critical care, birthing and health assessments. The grant will also enable the college to buy patient simulators and “manikins” — life-size anatomical human models — that help students build confidence before working with real patients.

RIC President Nancy Carriuolo and Jane Williams, dean of the nursing school, will join Reed at RIC’s Fogarty Life Science Building at 10:30 a.m.

“At a time when Rhode Island and the nation are facing a shortage of nurses, this federal funding will help RIC bring more highly-skilled nursing graduates into the work force and improve patient care,” said Reed, who is a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education.

“We want to give nursing students the best, most realistic learning environment possible.”

The Health Resources and Services Administration estimates a shortage of 200,000 full-time licensed nurses. By 2020, the agency estimates the shortage will grow to more than 1 million.

Staff report