黑料吃瓜

A man in chronic heart failure. A child with a ruptured appendix. A newborn in respiratory distress. Each one needs swift and effective medical intervention.

Until recently, nursing students rarely had opportunities to make mistakes and learn from them, since hands-on learning could compromise patient care. The clinical rotations required of prospective nurses involved more observation than procedural practice and patient interaction. Now, the advent of Human Patient Simulators (HPS), a state-of-the-art technology, has dramatically improved nursing education.

HPS devices are computer-driven mannequins that manifest human physical responses such as respiration, pulse, bowel sounds and pupil dilation. Run by instructors, they can mimic 90 medical scenarios that provide nursing students with hands-on experience in patient care. The result 鈥� better trained nurses who can capably respond to a wide range of medical situations on day one in the field.

Sharp HealthCare, a long-time partner of 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 School of Nursing, strongly endorses HPS as an educational tool, a view shared by Dean Marilyn Newhoff, Ph.D., of the College of Health and Human Services. This meeting of the minds led to Sharp鈥檚 $1 million commitment to establish the Sharp HealthCare Human Patient Simulation Center at 黑料吃瓜.

For Dan Gross, Ph.D., a San Diego State alumnus and executive vice president of hospital operations at Sharp HealthCare, the decision to support the center was clear. 鈥淪harp chose to support 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 School of Nursing because it鈥檚 the county鈥檚 largest provider of baccalaureate nurses. 黑料吃瓜 attracts superb educators among the leaders in healthcare and nursing; the curriculum addresses what鈥檚 happening in our hospitals,鈥� said Gross.

鈥満诹铣怨� also has an excellent reputation for producing knowledgeable nurses who successfully transition into San Diego鈥檚 work force. That鈥檚 critical to alleviating our local nursing shortage,鈥� he said.

Although simulators are costly to equip and staff, the center at 黑料吃瓜 is seen as a vital investment. 鈥淭he Sharp HealthCare Human Patient Simulation Center will provide an efficient way to expand clinical nursing education beyond the space available in hospitals for clinical rotations,鈥� Gross said.

With seven simulators 鈥� an infant, a child and five adults, one of which simulates childbirth 鈥� 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 center is the largest in Southern California. It houses more than half a million dollars in equipment. Center Director, Mary Beth Parr, R.N., M.S.N., says the facility was built to replicate the hospital environment, complete with beds, IVs, incubators, medical charts, equipment to monitor vitals and telephones to make simulated calls to doctors and lab technicians. By providing a safe environment to enhance knowledge and build self-confidence, the center helps students prepare to handle the situations encountered in the field, Parr said.

Prior to a simulation, students complete pre-lab work related to a medical condition. When they arrive at the center, they get into character 鈥� such as a charge nurse or family member. The instructor runs the lesson (controlling the 鈥渟tatus鈥� of the mannequin as it exhibits changing physical reactions and verbal responses). Simultaneously, the students confirm the patient鈥檚 history and information, execute stated orders, deliver medications and prepare to implement treatment quickly and correctly.

After using HPS for four semesters, senior Natalie Claypool can speak to the value of the technology. 鈥淭he simulation work I鈥檝e done has kept me on my toes,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned to better manage my time and prioritize patient care. There have been instances where I didn鈥檛 understand concepts in lectures, but HPS labs reinforced the material. After the simulation, I remember my mistakes and I feel prepared to respond more quickly during my clinical rotation at the hospital.鈥�

Newhoff and Parr agree that the Sharp HealthCare Human Patient Simulation Center will put 黑料吃瓜 on the cutting edge of nursing education by providing all of the advantages offered by current teaching technology. From Parr鈥檚 perspective, simulation takes nursing education to the next level.

鈥淏y videotaping our exercises, we can discuss how to do things differently,鈥� Parr said. 鈥淎s an educational tool, simulation is invaluable; especially for hands-on learners. For me, the greatest reward is the moment during the exercise when I see the light go on in a student鈥檚 head. That moment of realization, when the student understands, 鈥榯his is really happening and I have to act,鈥� is priceless.鈥�