A new course this Fall 09 offers Advanced Practice Clinical Skills to graduate students at Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Nursing. The course utilizes a rich mix of simulation and active learning in our state-of-the-art Clinical Learning Center. Skills include suturing, reading chest Xrays, arthrocentesis, and selected acute care procedures. Above, Elis Salamone NP student staples a wound closed.
The Clinical Learning Center (CLC) hosted airway training and intubation for the Flight crew of VCU Health Systems emergency medical transport helicopter on Tuesday, November 11th, 2008. In the spirit of multidisciplinary training, the team's medical director, nurses, paramedics, and VCU School of Nursing students participated in planned simulations. These professionals are interested in telling our students more about transport nursing.
Read more about LifeEvac at http://lifeevac.com/
More pictures from todays activity can be seen on the SON Facebook page. A TOUR of the VCU LifeEvac will be arranged soon for SON students and staff. Stay tuned!!
With 1,325 PDF downloads to date, "Diffusion of Innovation: Embedding Simulation into Nursing Curricula", by Angela Renee Starkweather of Virginia Commonwealth University and Suzie Kardong-Edgren of Washington State University, is the most-downloaded article so far in 2008. Simulation can enhance learning and provides a stimulating environment for technologically proficient students. Yet, there remain a large number of nursing programs and faculty members that are resistant toward implementing simulation as a learning tool. This article provides details on the efforts to embed simulation in an undergraduate program that started with a few interested faculty at a large, multi-site nursing program.
The Governor’s School for Life Science and Medicine students found out that nurses are problem solvers and researchers. The Clinical Learning Center at VCU School of Nursing hosted multiple school and camp groups this summer as part of our ongoing community outreach. High school and middle school students participate with nursing students and the CLC team in simulations. These focused on therapeutic communication, critical thinking and the nurse-patient relationship. We had more than a few interested in nursing by the end!
Stan D. was admitted to the Evans-Haynes Burn Center on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at the SON Clinical Learning Center for staff competency training. The close partnership between the School of Nursing and the VCU Medical Center facilitates a unique exchange of ideas and expertise. Stan survived his 27% burns after fluid resuscitation and cardiac arrest.
Thank goodness!
Double click the picture below to listen to an enhanced podcast of our state-of-the-science Clinical Learning Center. You can also download this and other podcasts from the School of Nursing VCU iTunes page: itunes.vcu.edu.
The Clinical Learning Center (CLC) in our new building is busy running many different simulations. Recently, Adults I students (NURS 325) cared for a hypoglycemic Sim Man. Senior students have been experiencing a special scenario focused on Priority Setting and Delegation.
Come to the CLC and see what we have to offer you! Questions? Contact Sandy Voll at svoll@vcu.edu.
On Friday of last week, Sandy and I traveled down to North Carolina to see a Meti-Man in action. What is a Meti-Man? A Meti-Man is a Human Patient Simulator. According to the Meti website:
The Human Patient Simulator (HPS) – a computer-model-driven, full-sized mannequin – delivers that experience in true-to-life scenarios that swiftly change to meet instructors' goals.
I knew that I was in for an interesting day when Sandy asked the Director of the Simulation Lab if she had \"a good recipe for clotted blood.\"
