Nursing students wrap up Simulation Week

Dale is a Dummy. 

So is Millie.

They are not any type of dummies, but human replicas that can blink and "breathe" providing registered nursing students at Northeastern Technical College practice before entering the real medical world.

Dale is receiving bedrest for cirrhosis of the liver at Northeastern Technical College's replica hospital wing while Millie is suffering from symptoms of a urinary tract infection.

"Simulations in nursing classes are important because they allow students to practice real-life scenarios in a safe and controlled environment, preparing them for actual patient care," said NETC Simulation Instructor Lori Rivers. "One of the goals of these exercises is to teach our students to work as a team in order to care for a patient."

One of the tools used to simulate a real-world patient is dummies (Dale and Millie prefer to be called mannequins or simulators) which are designed to mimic the physical characteristics and responses of real patients – such as blinking, breathing, and heart beatings.

Students at NETC's Allied Nursing program use models that can simulate hemorrhages and seizures, as well as designed for procedures such as foley catheters and feeding tubes. They are also programmed to simulate normal heart, lung, and bowel sounds as well as palpate pulses.

Rivers, along with Nursing Instructor Shirley DeWeese, challenged registered nursing students during Simulation Week, where classroom scenarios provide the first steps bridging the classroom into real-life scenarios. Groups of four to five students spend 45 minutes engaging in administrating medications, talking to patients and knowing when to engage family members, how to properly relay medical information with doctors, and to check vitals for their patient.

On Sept. 18 class, a group of Lashawnea Marshall took the role of the medication nurse; Cassandra Kowszika was team lead; Melissa Keith became the nurse on duty, and Buffie Kasler played the role of concerned spouse.

The team focused on Dale who was receiving quite a bit of medication after being released from ICU; his wife is worried he was released too soon; and his vitals have changed where there may be concern from the nursing staff.

Millie was brought to the emergency room by her daughter. She was confused and dehydrated with high blood pressure and may not have been taking her medications.

One of Milile's nursing teams Sept. 20 were Nabi Watson as medication nurse, Tara Quick as team leader, Emilee Allison as the primary nurse, and Hailey Vaughan playing the role of Millie's daughter.

Simulation Week may have ended Sept. 22, but the practice continues at Northeastern Technical College.

For more information, call 800.921.7399 or visit online at www.netc.edu.

Tags: College College Educated New Programs Pathway Pathway to a Future Students News

Back to The News   Share with a Friend

Contact Us