Clinical Simulations Lab

The use of patient simulation manikins for real-life scenario testing is scientifically proven to improve patient care delivery systems and prevent emergent patient codes such as cardiac arrest.  This is critical to the provisions of a safe and efficacious way for nurses to practice skills and improve competency in treatment and clinical decision making, encouraging collaboration and reducing the preventable codes within the hospital (Landry, Oberleitner, Landry, Borazjani, 2006).  The manikins are life-sized simulators that can be programmed to simulate a wide variety of patient symptoms and clinical scenarios.

The simulator can be used to develop crisis management techniques, critical thinking as well as assessment skills. The simulator has an ECG library of 2500 cardiac rhythm variants, pulses and heart sounds synchronized with ECG as well as cough, vomiting, moaning and other sounds to respond to patient interventions directed by the nurse. The simulation is programmed and uses timed algorithms based on the nurses’ responses.