Enhancing Nursing Lab Efficiency Through Industrial Engineering Tools
Disciplines
Industrial Engineering
Abstract (300 words maximum)
The rapid growth of the nursing program at Kennesaw State University has led to a substantial increase in student enrollment, posing challenges in operational efficiency, resource allocation, and the delivery of quality education. One major issue is the limited space, time, and resources available in student nursing labs, where only two classrooms with sixteen beds must accommodate a growing number of students. Overcrowding and restricted practice opportunities hinder skill development, yet students are still expected to demonstrate proficiency in course exams and clinical practice. Addressing these challenges is critical to ensuring that nursing students receive the hands-on training necessary to develop competency and confidence in real-world healthcare settings. This study applies industrial engineering tools to optimize nursing lab processes, addressing inefficiencies in space utilization, time allocation, and resource management. Process mapping and time-motion studies will identify non-value-added activities within lab sessions, leading to a standardized workflow that streamlines skill station transitions. Facility layout analysis will assess space utilization, ensuring optimal student distribution across available stations, while simulation modeling will test proposed scheduling strategies that group similar lab sessions together to minimize bottlenecks and improve accessibility. Additionally, inventory management techniques, such as an automated audit system with predefined reorder points, will enhance the tracking and replenishment of nursing supplies. Observations have revealed variability in how lab activities are structured, leading to inconsistent station utilization and underutilization of lab time. Likewise, the lack of an efficient and standardized inventory management and tracking system has led to inconsistent supply availability often resulting in shortages of essential materials or surplus stock that goes unused. By implementing structured guidelines for lab organization, resource allocation, and course scheduling, this study aims to improve nursing students' learning experiences, ensuring more effective skill acquisition and better preparedness for professional practice.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
SPCEET - Industrial and Systems Engineering
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Dr. Valentina Nino
Additional Faculty
Lin Li, Industrial and Systems Engineering, lli19@kennesaw.edu
Awatef Ergai, Industrial and Systems Engineering, aergai@kennesaw.edu
Enhancing Nursing Lab Efficiency Through Industrial Engineering Tools
The rapid growth of the nursing program at Kennesaw State University has led to a substantial increase in student enrollment, posing challenges in operational efficiency, resource allocation, and the delivery of quality education. One major issue is the limited space, time, and resources available in student nursing labs, where only two classrooms with sixteen beds must accommodate a growing number of students. Overcrowding and restricted practice opportunities hinder skill development, yet students are still expected to demonstrate proficiency in course exams and clinical practice. Addressing these challenges is critical to ensuring that nursing students receive the hands-on training necessary to develop competency and confidence in real-world healthcare settings. This study applies industrial engineering tools to optimize nursing lab processes, addressing inefficiencies in space utilization, time allocation, and resource management. Process mapping and time-motion studies will identify non-value-added activities within lab sessions, leading to a standardized workflow that streamlines skill station transitions. Facility layout analysis will assess space utilization, ensuring optimal student distribution across available stations, while simulation modeling will test proposed scheduling strategies that group similar lab sessions together to minimize bottlenecks and improve accessibility. Additionally, inventory management techniques, such as an automated audit system with predefined reorder points, will enhance the tracking and replenishment of nursing supplies. Observations have revealed variability in how lab activities are structured, leading to inconsistent station utilization and underutilization of lab time. Likewise, the lack of an efficient and standardized inventory management and tracking system has led to inconsistent supply availability often resulting in shortages of essential materials or surplus stock that goes unused. By implementing structured guidelines for lab organization, resource allocation, and course scheduling, this study aims to improve nursing students' learning experiences, ensuring more effective skill acquisition and better preparedness for professional practice.