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News and Announcements for: November 2008
Patient simulators enhance nursing students' clinical experiences
Laura Gonzalez, PhD, ARNP, director of the USF College of Nursing's Center for Virtual Simulation, instructs students using one of the laboratory's patient simulators.New technologies have advanced ways to simulate hands-on, real-time patient experiences, including computer-controlled mannequins that can be programmed to display certain health conditions and complications in humans. Human patient simulators allow students to repeatedly practice skills and procedures and to make judgements and errors in a controlled setting. These virtual patients have helped revolutionize nursing education by providing another level of safety before students care for real patients in hospitals and other clinical settings. "Students learn to think on their feet and enjoy using the simulation lab to practice honing their skills," said Laura Gonzalez, PhD, ARNP, director for the Center of Virtual Simulation at the University Of South Florida College Of Nursing.I-Stan (TM), completely wireless and tetherless, is the latest model of human patient simulator. Unlike previous models, I-Stan is controlled wirelessly through the computer and all the simulator's operating machinery is housed inside its body. The instructor uses the computer to control all actions of the simulator, changing the physiological symptoms manually as the students administer treatment to the virtual patient. The USF College of Nursing plans to create a control room where instructors can operate the patient simulator while viewing the students’ actions through a one-way mirror. In addition, the room housing the I-Stan will be modeled to resemble a hospital room or an intensive care unit. The simulation lab meets the needs of today’s students by complementing traditional teaching methods with technology. The use of simulators is not inteded to replace classical education, but rather to enhance learning. The process of learning through assessment, evaluation, decision making and error correction is considered a stronger learning environment than passive instruction, experts say. In a “mock code” simulation nursing students are put in a situation in which the patient undergoes respiratory and cardiac arrest and must be given immediate care to survive. The students must call upon their training and knowledge of how to respond in an emergency without wasting any time. 
Fred Slone, MD, adjunct faculty member in the College of Nursing, demonstrates the latest model of human patient simulator, I-Stan, for the college's Community Awareness Nursing Development Leadership Education (CANDLE) group.During four-hour monthly sessions students also work with the birthing simulator Noelle. A specialized robot-mannequin, Noelle is capable of delivering a baby vaginally, simulating a fetal heart rate and illustrating physiological changes throughout the birth. Students can view cardinal movements internally and externally as the birth progresses. They get a complete, first-hand experience before, during and after delivery -- caring for mom and newborn. "Skills that may not be available for practice in a clinical environment are practiced in the lab to increase their exposure," said USF College of Nursing faculty member Jenny Molloy MS, ARNP, RNC. "Because their roles would primarily be as an observer, skills the students may not be able to practice can be practiced in the simulation lab." 
Clinical nursing instructor Jenny Molloy MS, ARNP, RNC, helps students "deliver" a newborn using a specially-designed labor and delivery simulator.The George & Marian Miller Center for Virtual Learning at the USF College of Nursing also meets the changing needs of students while increasing the quality of education. Topic-specific software helps students learn indispensable skills that require considerable practice. With the support of an interdisciplinary grant, the College of Nursing and the College of Engineering created nursing educational software to help students learn and practice elements of hands-on nursing skills such as inserting a naso-gastric tube. Other interactive programs allow students to practice reading and interpreting chest X-rays and heart rhythms.There is a strategic plan to incorporate more laboratory simulation throughout the curriculum. "The goal is to have simulation used in every semester's coursework, from novices to experts," Dr Gonzalez said. "We don't need to stop with nursing students; practicing nurses always need a refresher, especially in high-risk, low-volume situations."
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