A man came into the hospital complaining of heart and chest pains. The nurse remembered his training at Ball State University and checked the man's vital signs, heart and lung sounds. Hearing the abnormal sounds and seeing high blood pressure caused the nurse to react quickly. Because of his training he was able to stabilize the patient until the doctor came in to see him.
Nursing students in Ball State's School of Nursing have the opportunity to participate in various simulations using Ball State's newest technological learning tools, SimMan and SimBaby.
Linda Siktberg, director of the School of Nursing, said the School of Nursing was designing a simulation laboratory room for two high-fidelity simulators, SimMan and SimBaby as well as Noelle, the maternal and neonatal birthing simulator.
"SimMan and SimBaby are realistic looking dolls that have rubber skin and have capabilities such as lung inspiration and expiration movement, palpable pulse points and electrocardiogram monitoring," Siktberg said.
Carol Keihn, an instructor at the School of Nursing, said SimMan and SimBaby are computer programmable so they can have irregular heart and lung sounds, bowel sounds and low stats.
Siktberg said students go through realistic scenarios and as the nurses are working on the patients, the instructors can change the patients stats to see how the student will react.
"Another function of SimMan is that he has anatomically correct parts so the students can practice putting catheters in the person," Keihn said.
SimBaby does most of the same functions as SimMan, but also does some things that are more common with babies.
"The baby has retractions, or when the lung muscles suck in deeper when they are not breathing well, as well as becoming synodic where the lips turn blue," Keihn said.
SimMan can interchange anatomy to become SimWoman.
"SimWoman gives birth to a child and undergoes actual contractions," she said. "Students can practice labor and delivery as well as go through dilation practices."
Gina Biro, Melanie Martin and Erin Paul, junior nursing students, said the SimMan actually talks to the nurses and coughs. They said students could check the blood pressure, pulse and respirations just like with a normal person making it a really good learning device.
Keihn said the students were limited in clinical experience and this allowed them to do research before going to the hospital and getting actual experience.
"Anything we can use to help the students learning is wonderful," Keihn said. "SimMan and SimBaby enhance critical thinking and learning skills."
The situations the students practice will help them develop self-confidence Siktberg said.
"They will be able to adapt to changes encountered in common patient situations that will prepare them for real life practice," Siktberg said.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
