Childbirth Simulator

By Holly Ames/Medstar

M60o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr Childbirth Simulator

Published: Fri, September 28, 2007 - 4:15 pm
Last Updated: Fri, September 28, 2007 - 4:18 pm

More nursing schools and medical centers around the country are turning to high-tech simulators as life-saving teaching tools.

Nursing students are learning about pregnancy complications on a patient named Noelle. But a closer look shows Noelle is actually a 35-thousand dollar simulator that's giving these students some of the most high-tech training available in the U.S.

Norma Martinez Rogers is a Registered Nurse. "Simulation is really important because when the students go out to work with patients, actual live patients, they have already practiced what they're going to be seeing."

In the clinical skills lab, students learn to recognize signs and symptoms of serious medical situations like a complicated childbirth. Noelle is equipped with a cervix that dilates. The instructor controls the fetal heart tones. Noelle's baby can even be positioned for a breech delivery.

Juanita Garcia is a nursing student who is working with Noelle. "You put what you learn in class, theory, and you put it into play here at the skills lab before you ever go out and actually, you know, do it on a patient."

The simulation facility is equipped with a mock hospital room where students are closely supervised.

Juanita Garcia says, "So you pretty much, you know, get to do a Q & A with your instructors, I mean, if you're kind of just standing there and you find yourself in a bind, you have assistance there."

Simulators like Noelle give nursing students the extra confidence and skills to provide patients the ultimate level of care.

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