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Marieb College simulation ensures graduates are ready for any emergency
Emergencies are unpredictable, and preparing future healthcare professionals to handle them is a top priority at Florida Gulf Coast University. To ensure students gain invaluable real-world experience, FGCU hosted its inaugural “Disaster Day” event in November, bringing together over 600 participants for an adrenaline-charged emergency training exercise. More than 300 students from FGCU’s Marieb College of Health & Human Services joined faculty, staff, volunteers and local first responders in an all-day simulation designed to test their ability to assess, diagnose and treat patients under pressure.
The multidisciplinary exercise highlighted FGCU’s commitment to ensuring healthcare students are prepared to enter the workforce equipped to handle real-world emergencies.
It takes a village to stage a ‘disaster’
Over 600 participants were involved, including hundreds taking part in a mass CPR training in partnership with the American Red Cross.
Some 100 student actors portrayed victims on the worst day of their lives, creating realistic scenarios by simulating injuries and distress. Emergency vehicles — including ambulances, fire trucks, police cars and a medical helicopter — added to the life-like atmosphere.
The event brought together local first responders, the Florida State Guard, the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the Salvation Army, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, San Carlos Fire Department, Lee Flight, NCH and Lee Health, as well as several simulation companies that donated their time and equipment. Eleven FGCU academic programs were involved, including eight from Marieb College.
As the day unfolded, healthcare students rotated through various zones of the staging areas, each presenting unique challenges. Students practiced skills learned in the classroom, like how to help triage, evaluate, assess and treat. They faced a variety of issues affecting their patients’ mental health, physical ability and psychomotor, cognitive and functional skills.
The experience dramatically underscored the importance of healthcare professionals working together. For many of the healthcare students involved, participating in a hands-on emergency simulation added urgency to lessons learned from textbooks and classroom lectures.
The simulated disaster was more than just a test of individual skills — it was a masterclass in teamwork. Students from different healthcare disciplines worked side by side, combining their expertise to deliver optimal care. This interprofessional collaboration reflected real-world healthcare settings, where success often depends on effective communication and coordination among diverse teams.
For many participants, the exercise offered a profound sense of realism. Tasks like managing airways, monitoring vital signs and delegating responsibilities became second nature as the adrenaline kicked in. By the end of the day, students reported feeling more confident and prepared to face actual emergencies.
Preparing for real life
To enhance the realism of playing victims, student actors from FGCU’s theatre department arrived several hours before the simulation to apply moulage, a theatrical disaster makeup, to create the appearance of injuries involving blood and gore. The volunteer “casualties” took their positions on Recreation Field 1 under the watchful eye of four groups of first responders and Marieb College faculty, there to observe the progress of the healthcare students.
Their realistic performances added urgency and complexity to the scenarios. Healthcare participants were able to practice skills learned, such as controlling a patient’s airway, making sure patients are intubated if they are unconscious and delegating tasks to other team members.
Before the event, Joe Buhain, Marieb College’s director of interprofessional simulation and emerging technology, said his primary goal was to engage students in interprofessional education with the hope that they would learn, not just from the event, but from each other.
FGCU’s Disaster Day is a testament to the university’s dedication to hands-on learning. Through carefully crafted scenarios, participants not only practiced their technical skills but also learned how to adapt to the unpredictable nature of crisis situations. Each scenario was designed to challenge students’ clinical knowledge, decision-making abilities and emotional resilience.
The event also highlighted Marieb College’s emphasis on interdisciplinary learning. Healthcare students interacted with peers from programs like social work, counseling and nursing anesthesia — fields they might not typically encounter in classroom settings. This exposure broadened their understanding of the holistic approach required in emergency care.
The path forward
As FGCU looks ahead, the success of Disaster Day has set the stage for future simulations. Organizers plan to make this an annual event, continually refining the scenarios to mirror evolving healthcare challenges. By providing students with immersive, real-life experiences, Marieb College is preparing them to succeed — and shaping the future of healthcare.
For prospective students, current professionals and community partners, Disaster Day exemplifies the university’s innovative approach to education. It’s a place where learning goes beyond the classroom, where collaboration takes center stage and where the future of healthcare is being shaped.
Learn more about FGCU’s Marieb College of Health & Human Services at fgu.edu/marieb.
Florida Gulf Coast Univesity
