Tenerife Launches AI-Powered Hospital Simulation Program for Healthcare Students
The Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University School of Nursing and CIFP Los Gladiolos have launched "SimIA," a pioneering hospital simulation program in Tenerife that uses artificial intelligence to train nursing and vocational students in a collaborative, high-tech intensive care environment.
Artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare education in Tenerife, where the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University School of Nursing and CIFP Los Gladiolos have launched a pioneering hospital simulation program. Known as "SimIA," this initiative is part of a Canary Islands government strategy to modernize vocational training using advanced virtual environments.
The project bridges the gap between university and vocational studies by recreating an intensive care unit (ICU) at CIFP Los Gladiolos, a center known for its healthcare training excellence. In this setting, fourth-year nursing students lead a team of 17 nursing assistant students. Beyond mastering technical skills, the program focuses on essential professional abilities, such as clear communication, task prioritization, and decision-making under pressure.
This simulation-based approach helps students bridge the divide between classroom theory and real-world clinical practice. By training in a high-tech, controlled environment, students can practice responding to emergencies without putting patients at risk, ensuring they are better prepared for their future careers. This collaborative model is particularly valuable, as these students will eventually work side-by-side in real hospital settings.
The partnership combines the long-standing expertise of the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University School of Nursing—which has been training healthcare professionals since 1967—with the practical focus of CIFP Los Gladiolos. By fostering this alliance between university and vocational education, the project aims to improve the quality of the Canary Islands' healthcare system through innovative teaching methods that prepare students for the demands of modern medicine.