Nurses and Medical Simulation Training, Research Paper Example

Computer simulation in both hospitals and medical teaching institutions are becoming far more widely acceptable. ” The number of whole-body, computerized patient simulators used in medical and nursing education has grown rapidly in recent years (Kapur & Steadman, 1998). This increased use is due, in part, to increased availability of the technology (Mallow & Gilje, 1999) and to student and teacher needs (Marshall et al., 2001).” (Carol E. Feingold, Margaret Calaluce, & Michael A. Kallen, 2004).  Clinical skills can be much more readily mastered by trainee nurses in a relatively risk free environment.

Old clinical practices on human patients allowed for minimum intervention and intrusion whereas computer simulations can provide scenarios and case studies of surgical techniques and diagnostics.  ” Mrs. Chase was the prototype mannequin first used by nursing programs in the late 1950s. This life-size human model allowed nursing students to practice the nursing skills they had learned in the classroom  The next decade introduced the Harvey model, which provided heart and lung sounds to enhance the learning and practice taking place in the psychomotor laboratory” (Nehring, Lashley, & Ellis, 2002).  These early simulation models facilitated role play exercises but were limited in terms of scope and use ..” Sim One was the name of the first model developed in 1969 for anaesthesiology residents to learn endotracheal intubation” (Nehring, Lashley, & Ellis, 2002).

With the shortage of nursing trainers the concept of cyber applications becomes very appealing.  Nurses can interact with sophisticated software programs and research and apply simulated techniques in a safe zone.  Additional technology advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence and expert systems will increase the versatility and dept of the simulations. In the future it may be possible to conduct surgical techniques on a simulated human.  ” Nurse educators must think beyond just buying a fancy human-sized, computer-controlled, life-like model. We need to think of how simulation of real life can help students learn both the physical and psychosocial aspects of nursing care in situations that need practice.” (RN, 2008)

Students are reacting very positively to nursing computer simulation studies and this is seen to be increasing the value of learning ..” Use of computer simulations was studied as a strategy to evaluate clinical decision-making skills of 64 senior baccalaureate nursing students who were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. All students completed Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory, a pre- and post test that was a computer assisted instruction (CAI) clinical simulation specific to the student’s clinical placement, and a 36 item attitudinal and evaluative questionnaire developed for the study” (Lowdermilk DL, 1991).

Works Cited

Carol E. Feingold, M. R., Margaret Calaluce, B. R., & Michael A. Kallen, P. M. (2004). Computerized Patient Model and Simulated Clinical Experiences: Evaluation. Tucson AZ: Journal of Nursing Education.

Lowdermilk DL, F. A. (1991). Computer simulations as a measure of nursing students’ decision-making skills. Journal of Nursing Edication , 34-39.

Nehring, W. M., Lashley, F. R., & Ellis, W. E. (2002). Critical incident nursing management using human patient simulators. Nursing Education perspectives , 6-10.

RN, B. T. (2008, 5 3). Nursing Educator. Retrieved 4 16, 2010, from Proposed: A Nursing Simulation Specialist : http://nursingeducator.blogspot.com/2008/05/proposed-nursing-simulation-specialist.html