This fall, the first class of Loyola nursing students will begin hands-on training as second year students in brand new simulation labs inside Bloomfield Hall, where they will practice patient care using high-tech mannequins, among other things, to replicate clinical scenarios. The design of the new labs closely mirrors rooms at Mercy Medical Center, reinforcing the program’s clinical partnership and helping students understand real-world healthcare environments from day one. 

Unlike traditional classroom settings, the labs look like the inside of a hospital clinic and emphasize experiential learning. Each room is outfitted with fully functional clinical equipment, including blood pressure gauges, diagnostic tools, medical gas outlets, suction equipment, and more, mirroring everything a student would find walking into a real hospital room. Students will practice skills on one another, work with standardized patient actors, and train on high-tech mannequins, while faculty use a system called SIM Capture to control patient scenarios in real time.

“We can change the mannequin’s condition from a control room, make them short of breath, adjust vital signs, even simulate distress. Students can respond in real time, just like they would in a real clinical setting,” Assistant Clinical Professor Katelyn Quarry said. 

Quarry explained that one of the first courses students will take in the new labs is Health Assessment, where they will be coached on how to evaluate patients through hands-on practice.

“They learn how to do a full head-to-toe assessment, listening to lung sounds, heart sounds, and even doing neurological exams. It’s really about understanding what normal looks like before they go into a hospital and start seeing patients who are sick,” Quarry said.

The new nursing lab is part of  Loyola’s broader investment in health and STEM education, including an estimated $78 million renovation of the Donnelly Science Center, where the new nursing labs are housed. With Bloomfield Hall now open, the full project is expected to be completed by spring 2027

The nursing program welcomed its inaugural cohort in fall 2025. What began with a small group of students has quickly grown into one of the University’s most competitive and in demand majors. According to Senior Director of Undergraduate Admission Andrew Cevasco, the program has seen rapid growth in interest since its launch.

“We had over 1,000 applications for the first year. This year, we saw about a 42.5% increase in applications, with around 1,500 applicants for just 50 spots. It’s become a very competitive program,” Cevasco said.

The University plans to continue expanding the program gradually, with a goal of enrolling approximately 100 to 110 nursing students per incoming class by 2030. As demand grows, so does the program’s selectivity, with just about a 20% admit rate the past 2 years.

Part of the program’s appeal, Cevasco explained, is Loyola’s location in Baltimore, a major hub for healthcare and biomedical research. The program is in partnership with Mercy Medical Center. Loyola’s nursing program also stands out for its direct-admit structure, allowing students to begin nursing coursework immediately rather than applying into the major later in their college careers.

“Nursing students come in ready to hit the ground running. They’re very focused and know exactly what they want to do from day one,” Cevasco said.

According to Dr. Sharon O’Neill, director of Loyola’s new nursing program, the addition of nursing reflects a broader expansion of healthcare education at the University.

“It’s opening up other avenues for Loyola because we’re building other relationships such as working with Mercy and potentially with other healthcare partners in the Baltimore area,” O’Neill said.

Freshman nursing major Gail Mnzava described her transition into the program as both manageable and rewarding.

“My first semester went really well. I’ve gotten to know my fellow nursing students, and I think our professors were really impressed with how we’ve been doing,” Mnzava said.

Mnzava spent her first year focussing on foundational coursework that will set her up for the more intensive clinical practice. She said the gradual approach has been beneficial.

“I kind of expected it to be a little more fast paced, but I’m grateful that they’re guiding us through it and taking it one step at a time,” Mnzava said.

O’Neill said Loyola’s nursing program differs from many others in the region.

“At other schools, you have to compete to get into the nursing program midway through your college career, so you don’t get admitted to the nursing program at the outset,” O’Neill said.

Unlike those programs, Loyola admits students directly as freshmen, allowing them to begin nursing coursework right away and follow a clear, structured path. O’Neill also emphasized the academic rigor of the curriculum.

“The students in our program take all their sciences with all the science majors, which is not always the case, so it’s a much more rigorous program,” O’Neil said.

The full renovation of Bloomfield Hall is expected to be completed by spring 2027, bringing expanded lab space and updated facilities for all STEM disciplines. With enrollment increasing, Quarry noted that space and resources will need to keep pace with demand.

“As the program grows, we’re going to be running multiple sections of each course throughout the week. It’s exciting, but it also means we have to continue expanding to support that growth,” Quarry said.

As for Mnzava, choosing nursing was a decision rooted in both her personal life and career path search, enjoying the specifics of the program that allows her to stay connected to healthcare while still exploring her long-term goals.

“I chose this major because my mom is a nurse,” Mnzava said.

Despite being the first cohort, Mnzava said the experience has already helped her begin thinking about her future in healthcare.

“I’ll probably apply to graduate school and start thinking about residency. The goal is to stay in this area, like Maryland or D.C.,” Mnzava said.