Simulation labs help Ivy Tech meet rising demand for nurses
With the shortage of registered nurses in the United States projected to increase, Ivy Tech Community College continues to produce graduates well qualified to meet health care needs, thanks to state-of-the-art equipment.
The college's Crown Point location, 9900 Connecticut Drive, boasts two high-fidelity simulation labs. The first lab creates a labor and delivery environment and includes a birthing manikin that faculty and students named Mercedes. In keeping with a “car” theme, the birthing baby is called Porsche.
The $86,000 birthing robot provides nursing students with a realistic training experience, including cesarean sections and various complications that can occur during childbirth. Post-partum care also is practiced.
The second lab, with three high-tech manikins, simulates an intensive care unit and provides teaching situations from all stages of life. The manikins — representing an infant, child and adult male — can be programmed to simulate diseases and conditions such as dehydration, congestive heart failure, epilepsy, pulmonary disease and neurological conditions.
Bentley, the male manikin, and Mercedes are able to speak and produce fluids in order to make scenarios as realistic as possible.
The labs also have hospital-grade equipment, including an automated medication dispensing unit, a mobile medication cart equipped with bar code scanning, “smart” IV pumps, computerized charting and realistic touch-screen patient monitors.
A simulation expert, hired by the school this academic year, develops and runs the scenarios, choosing what health conditions will be replicated.
She also provides a post-simulation evaluation and debriefing, during which students are able to replay the recorded event and see what improvements are needed in their responses.
Students say they find the experience invaluable.
“Simulation lab has been a great addition to my nursing education,” said Lela Johnson, of Chicago. “It allows the student to walk through nursing assessment, interventions and evaluations. The scenarios help each student gain a better outlook on what their role is as a nurse and also as part of a team.”
“I could utilize my knowledge on labor and delivery care and practice clinical skills in a clinical environment with the appropriate medical team,” said student Alexis King, of Lynwood, Ill. “This made the scenario a reality and allowed me to expand my knowledge on the roles of others and my role in the clinical environment. Overall, it was a great experience. I earned a lot from others and gained a much better understanding on how to work as a team.”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that registered nurses will be among the top occupations in terms of job growth through 2022, including a need for 525,000 replacement nurses. This means the total number of job openings for nurses due to growth and replacements is projected to be 1.05 million in that time period.
“The two high-fidelity labs are a valuable asset to our nursing program because they provide a safe and supportive learning environment that promotes critical thinking while bridging the gap between theory and practice,” said Jennifer Philbin, dean of nursing for Ivy Tech's Northwest region.
“Ivy Tech is committed to promoting this state-of-the-art learning atmosphere and to promoting a culture of excellence in health care.”
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