DAVENPORT, IOWA (May 11, 2026) — St Ambrose University Bachelor of Science in Nursing students will take part in a realistic disaster response exercise on Thursday, May 14, 2026, as a culminating capstone experience designed to prepare them for the complexity, pressure and teamwork required in real-world emergency care.
The exercise will take place from approximately 7–10AM at the St Ambrose University Center for Health Sciences Education and MercyOne Genesis West Campus. Residents, businesses, students and visitors in the area should not be alarmed by visible emergency response activity, including fire engines, ambulances, simulated patients, emergency lights and sirens. This is a planned training exercise and not an actual emergency.
The disaster simulation will place nursing students in a severe weather emergency scenario involving a multi-vehicle crash, numerous casualties, hospital surge conditions, emergency department triage, MedSurg patient management and interagency coordination. Students will practice disaster-response skills including rapid-assessment, START triage, patient prioritization, communication, resource allocation, ethical decision-making, and collaboration with EMS, fire, emergency-management, and health-system partners.
“This is the kind of learning experience that cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom,” said Katrina Browning DNP RN CNE, interim dean of the College of Health and Human Services.
“Our nursing students will be asked to think critically, lead under pressure, communicate across disciplines and make patient-care decisions in a realistic emergency environment. That level of hands-on preparation is exactly what helps our St Ambrose graduates enter the workforce with confidence, compassion and readiness.”
The exercise will include nearly 90 St Ambrose nursing students, with students participating as both simulated victims and responders. Final-semester nursing students will apply skills developed throughout the BSN curriculum, building on earlier-learning experiences in emergency preparedness, patient-centered care, population health, clinical reasoning, and leadership.
St Ambrose nursing students prepare for this experience through scaffolded learning across the program, including simulation, tabletop disaster exercises, emergency preparedness coursework, clinical experiences and exposure to Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit settings. As part of the culminating exercise, students will also engage in a post-exercise “Hot Wash” debrief to evaluate strengths, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
“At St. Ambrose, we prepare students not only to earn a degree, but to become the kind of professionals who can respond with skill, courage and care when people need them most,” said St. Ambrose University President Amy Novak, EdD President Amy Novak EdD.
“This exercise reflects the distinctive value of an Ambrose education: Rigorous academic preparation, meaningful community partnerships, and real-world learning rooted in service to others.”
Participating organizations include Scott County Emergency Management Agency, Scott County Medic Emergency Medical Services, Bettendorf Fire Department, Davenport Fire Department, MercyOne Genesis Health System, MercyOne Genesis EMS, and St Ambrose University.
For safety reasons, only approved participants, observers, and media representatives may access the exercise area. Individuals not involved in the exercise should not approach the scene. Those attending class or conducting business at the Center for Health Sciences Education should use the upper-level entrance and proceed with caution when entering or exiting the building.
Parking restrictions will be in place near the exercise area. The CHSE student parking lot will be barricaded from Tuesday, May 12 through Friday, May 15, and the mid-level faculty and staff parking lot will be restricted the morning of May 14. Approved alternate parking will be available in the upper lot of the CHSE building and in the larger lot near Family Resources. Vehicles parked in restricted areas may be ticketed or towed.
For more information about St. Ambrose University nursing and health sciences programs, visit sau.edu today.
About St Ambrose University
Founded in 1882 by the Diocese of Davenport, St Ambrose University’s commitment to academic excellence, the liberal arts, social justice, and service is rooted in its Catholic intellectual tradition. The leading, private university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers more than fifty undergraduate and graduate programs. One-hundred and forty years since its inception, St Ambrose education remains centered on intentional, holistic, and experiential learning, with a vision to be a vibrant, sustainable, and learner-focused model for Catholic higher education, preparing individuals from all walks of life to lead lives characterized by our core values of courage, wisdom, justice, and service. To learn more about St Ambrose University, visit sau.edu.
