KIMBERLY BROWN: I really love simulation,
because it gives us an opportunity to not only increase
our student's confidence in their skills,
but it's also a place that this is very safe for them
to perform their skills without patient harm.
ALISA MELNIKOVA: The things that we got to do
helped a lot in a clinical setting, because when we did run
into certain situations, it wasn't that we were
unfamiliar with what we were doing.
We kind of had a chance to experience it in a safe place, an environment where
you just get to learn, and there aren't really repercussions to what you do.
And you get to learn from the things that you may do well
or may do not so well.
KIMBERLY BROWN: It's a wonderful place for them
to talk about their feelings in regard to how
certain situations make them feel.
It helps them increase obviously their skill base,
but more than that, it increases their confidence.
SHELBY CRENSHAW: These simulation experiences have really helped me,
mostly I think, in my confidence as a new student nurse,
and hopefully soon a new staff nurse in the hospital.
They've really become a place for me to fumble around with the equipment
and not be embarrassed about it before I go into the hospital.
And they've become a place where I can come in and ask questions,
and I can get answers.
I can get feedback on, hey, this is what you did wrong.
These are things that you can improve on,
but also, this is what you did right.
TREVOR ROGERS: Something that really stands out
to me is the ability that we have here to be as autonomous as regular RNs will
be.
As a student nurse, you don't really have the opportunity
to take on the role of an RN.
You're following an RN, but you're not actually participating as an RN
with the patients.
KIMBERLY BROWN: We are able to control the scenarios.
We are able to control the environment that we otherwise cannot control
in the clinical area.
TREVOR ROGERS: My time during simulation has been one
that I will take with me for the rest of my life as a nurse.
For example, we've had chances to work with these mannequins
and help them through some of the things that we will actually
be doing during our time as RNs in whatever hospital will be working in.
During our time in simulation, we are communicating with doctors.
We are communicating with pharmacists.
We're communicating with other nurses.
And that's something that you lack when you're a student nurse.
And you don't really have the opportunity to do.
ALISA MELNIKOVA: So having that experience, and having that exposure,
and being able to sit there and look at that-- in coming into the hospital,
it wasn't anything.
And it didn't throw me off.
And I felt prepared.
And I knew what I was looking at, which was a great feeling.
KIMBERLY BROWN: So it helps us to speak and address directly
concerns or problem areas that we see with our students.
And then we're able to focus our interactions in regard to that.
MARIE FOX: We're a small program, but we have a high volume
of students that go through.
So growing our simulation lab was really important.
I was a little intimidated when I signed up,
but I realized pretty quickly that we were all at very different points,
and that we all learned a lot of techniques, things like where
to get your labels for your meds, how to recycle your IV bags,
and lots of very useful tips brought us all together.
And we all learned what we needed.
KIMBERLY BROWN: Big benefit to my course,
and I really enjoy incorporating simulation in our program.
SUSAN FANCHER: The simulation in health courses
are designed to teach, engage, and challenge
those who have goals to develop simulation in a chosen environment.
Whether you have to used simulation in the past,
or you are just hearing the word for the first time,
our courses are designed to enrich your understanding of this educational tool.