As the nation continues to face a health care workforce shortage, West Chester University is stepping up to prepare the next generation of nurses.

Inside the university's Duey Immersive Learning Center, students are training in a state-of-the-art, hospital-like lab designed to mirror real medical settings.

The lab is equipped with high-tech patient manikins that can simulate medical emergencies like cardiac arrest, labor and delivery, and end-of-life care, giving students hands-on experience before they ever step foot in a hospital.

"The manikins allow students to have real-life opportunities. They can take care of someone having cardiac arrest or someone actively dying at the end stages of life," Dr. Nancy Barker, chair of West Chester University's Nursing Department, said. "It allows students to use critical thinking to improve patient outcomes."

This immersive approach is part of the university's commitment to addressing staffing gaps in health care and ensuring graduates are ready to hit the ground running.

West Chester University is also marking a major milestone, marking more than 50 years of its nursing program. To celebrate, the school is hosting community tours starting on Saturday, giving the public a look inside.