Simlog

January has been a busy month here even though the students didn’t return to the sim labs until January 20th. Below are posted pictures that will tell the story of our busy  first month of 2011!

Last minute instructions

Professor Dawne-Marie Dunbar has spent many hours in the simulation labs working with nursing students this past month. Fundamentals 100 students and Medical Surgical Nursing 201 students have been very positive about their experiences.  Comments like those listed below highlight the value of learning in the simulation labs:

“Great job! What a blast.! ”

“This was a wonderdul learning experience. I completely enjoyed everything and realize the value of Sim. ”

“Today was a awesome learning experience!”

End of Life Issues

Cindy Tack’s SSW 639 class, Social Work Practice in Medicine and Health, had opportunities to hone their skills during three experiences in the simulation labs. Cindy’s social work colleagues proved to be excellent actors as they played roles designed to challenge  and engage. As students encountered issues related to end of life, homelessness and difficult family dynamics, they were able to practice their assessment skills, tolerate intense and raw emotions and respond to presenting needs .

Cindy Tack Presents

Cindy Tack, our Social Work simulation pioneer,  represented the UNE School of Social Work at the Council on Social Work Education’s Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon. Her topic was about the use of simulation in social work, titled Making it Real: Using clinical simulation to strengthen practice skills.  As part of her presentation participants were able to view a movie (Simulation in Social Work Education) that  Cindy developed in collaboration with Cynthia, who filmed and edited the production.

Dental Hygienists in the SimLab

Dental Hygienists participated in a November Continuing Professional Education course entitled, Nitrous Oxide for the Dental Hygienist. The participants came to the simulation labs as a capstone to their course. They were able to practice what they learned in the didactic portion of their course and dealt with real issues that they might encounter in the dental clinic.

Ryan and Mike learning about EMS

This month Ryan continued his orientation to the simulation world. He met with Eric Stehle, Vice President of Sales at Educational Management Solutions (EMS) to learn about their web based management system. He also traveled to Sarasota, Florida for training on the METI systems (Medical Education Technologies, Inc).

Waiting for the bus.

Ryan wasn’t the only traveler this month. Our pediatric simulator, Hal, traveled around the corner to MMC’s Hannaford Center for Safety, Innovation and Simulation. He was in the care of  Todd Dadaleares, Chief Simulation Specialist, and was needed to help out with Emergency and Anesthesia resident training. MMC has ordered their own Hal but it hadn’t arrived in time for these simulation sessions. We are always happy to help our simulation neighbors.

Hal's Visit

If you stop by the simulation labs in Blewett 242, chances are you will see blue. This fall many nursing students are passing through our doors.

Fundamentals of Nursing Students Orienting to the SimLabs

Our Fundamentals of Nursing students will come to the simulation labs four times over this fall semester. During their first session, they are oriented to SimMan and each student has the opportunity to listen for lung and heart sounds, feel pulses and discover how simulation will enhance their clinical learning. During other sessions they will be practicing the basic assessment skills that they are learning in the nursing skills lab.

Our second year Medical Surgical Nursing students are preparing for their preceptorship which begins after Thanksgiving. They have returned to the simulation labs to hone their skills by being presented with complex patients. They are happy to have the opportunity to encounter clinical situations that test their clinical and communication skills. These sessions demonstrate to the students how far they have come and they often comment that having these experiences boosts their confidence.

Screen shot of nursing students.

Professor Dunbar with Nsg 201 Students

Todd Dadaleares, Chief Simulation Specialist at Maine Medical Center, invited his UNE colleagues to the Family and Friends Open House at the new Hannaford Center for Safety, Innovation and Simulation. The new center is stunning and we were all most pleased to be given a personalized tour by Todd.

Todd introduces Carl Tony and Mike Vickery to one of MMC's newest additions.

Ryan has had a busy fall becoming familiar with every aspect of CSP and has taken advantage of a couple of training opportunities. He recently returned from Boston where he spent five days at Harvard’s Institute for Medical Simulation’s Comprehensive Instructor Course with a technology track focus. He also attended a variety of workshop sessions at the New England Simulation Users Network (SUN) meeting sponsored by Laerdal.

Ryan as "confederate" in OR simulation

Ryan at SUN Meeting

That’s all for now. We’ll be back next month with more news but, in the meantime, please follow us on facebook. If you “Like” us, you will be able to see our weekly posts which will keep you informed about some of the things that are happening here at CSP.

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