Tami Richey, simulation lab manager for Galen College of Nursing’s Sarasota campus, has always been passionate about nursing, particularly labor and delivery, and inspiring the next generation of nurses.

After relocating to Florida in 2020, Richey joined HCA Englewood Hospital as a hospital-based educator, where she supported clinical education and staff development. It was there that she was first introduced to Galen and its students.

“It shocked me how well the Galen students were presenting themselves, how polite they were, their interactions with the faculty, and just their overall demeanor while walking around the hospital,” said Richey.

The impression stayed with her. When Galen’s Sarasota campus opened, Richey knew it was where she wanted to be. In 2023, she joined the college as a faculty member, teaching pediatrics and obstetrics, helping students develop the knowledge and confidence needed to care for patients during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.

While teaching, Richey saw an opportunity to expand hands-on learning experiences for students. With a passion for experiential education and preparing future nurses for real-world patient care, she took on the challenge of establishing Sarasota’s Simulation Program from the ground up.

“When I learned about our Simulation Program and started to build that program here for our campus, I fell in love with it,” said Richey.

The operation has since grown into a thriving program that plays a critical role in student education. Through realistic patient-care scenarios, students can strengthen clinical skills and gain confidence before entering healthcare settings.

“I was a team of one when I started,” said Richey. “Now our program, we have eight facilitators and one simulation technician.”

For Richey, one of the most rewarding aspects of her role is watching students transform classroom knowledge into practical skills and discover confidence in their abilities.

“One of the biggest things that I see and hear students sharing is they’re very thankful to have an opportunity of a safe place to make a mistake where they’re not going to hurt anybody,” Richey said.

One moment in particular has stayed with her. A student interested in labor and delivery had struggled to fully understand the labor process despite learning about it in class. During a simulation exercise, everything clicked.

“Her face went from utter shock,” Richey said. “And then at the end, you could just see the excitement in her face that she understood it. It finally all made sense for her.”

For Richey, those breakthrough moments are what make the work so meaningful. Whether she’s guiding students through a simulation scenario or helping them build confidence in their clinical skills, her goal remains the same: preparing future nurses to provide exceptional patient care.

As she continues to grow the program, she hopes students never lose sight of what inspired them to pursue nursing in the first place.

“I want them to keep their excitement for being a nurse,” she said. “It’s so hard when they get to that senior level that they lose that. I want them to keep their excitement and keep that why.”

Through her leadership, dedication and commitment to student success, Richey has built more than a simulation program at Sarasota. She has helped create an environment where future nurses can learn, grow and develop the confidence needed to make a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients.