Healthcare Simulation South Carolina

“Doctor, I feel like I could die.”

The desperate-sounding voice of the patient would demand attention in any emergency room or other hospital unit. In the Client Simulation Lab (CSL) at the University of South Carolina’s College of Nursing, it’s a high-fidelity manikin (i.e. mannequin) uttering this phrase, and “he” is getting a great deal of attention from both nursing students and faculty.
The manikins used in the labs are malleable and can be programmed to have a myriad of health problems, such as surgery complications or breech births, or to receive routine procedures, such as taking blood pressures. At Carolina, the lab itself is a realistic healthcare facility – complete with beds, examination rooms and a delivery room. It also has a large, common classroom area where students can gather to talk with each other about their assignments or with the nursing faculty member who is overseeing the day’s lesson. In addition, it can be used for large audience simulation as well as for AV presentations.  

The university’s CSL, one of several such training labs among Health Sciences South Carolina partners, reflects a growing trend in nursing, medical and healthcare education throughout the nation. However, the CSL educational experience is different in the Palmetto State because technology will eventually link the labs at the University of South Carolina, the Medical University of South Carolina, Clemson University, Greenville Hospital System and Greenville Tech – making this network one of a kind in the nation.

“From the faculty side, we are able to collect and share data and ideas among our institutions. These data will be valuable in helping shape the CSL experience for other colleges, universities and healthcare facilities,” said Erin McKinney, director of Carolina’s CSL. “Students say working with the manikins is an important first step in helping them move from the classroom to clinical settings.”

The College of Nursing has four high-fidelity manikins, including the patient who feels like he’s dying, and a neonate, high-fidelity manikin that can be programmed to have a variety of problems associated with pregnancy and delivery. Other manikins, which are considered “low fidelity,” provide valuable experience in training nurses for specific tasks, such as taking blood pressure, inserting intravenous needles and caring for wounds and ulcers.  Lonnie Rosier, Simulation Lab Technician, says “Giving students the opportunity to practice medical scenarios on high fidelity manikins is very much comparable to the simulator techniques NASA uses when preparing their astronauts for space flight.”

Dr. Peggy Hewlett said the CSL experience is an important addition to nursing education.

“Having a state-of-the-art Client Simulation Lab is part of the College of Nursing’s efforts to provide our students with a quality education that will prepare them for the demands of their profession,” said Hewlett. “Students receive valuable information and hands-on skills before they go to a hospital or other healthcare facility for their clinical training. This is an intense learning experience and challenges our students at every level. And they love it!”

Patient simulation labs are revolutionizing nursing education, and in doing so, are used to address the continuing faculty shortage.  Using simulation and standardized scenarios, every student is guaranteed the same opportunity to gain competency in both basic and advanced clinical skills.  Additionally, when using the traditional teaching model, a faculty member must be responsible for no more than eight students in the hospital setting – whereas, over 200 students can move through the simulated clinical experience in a 2-3 day period under the supervision of one faculty team.  While simulation is not designed to replace the care of “living patients,” it certainly gives students access and practice before they move into the hospital or community care settings.