The seven-room simulation center is set up to mirror Memorial's patient rooms. The simulated hospital setting includes four adult rooms, one NICU room, one pediatric room, an operating room and a working nurses' station. The rooms are fully equipped with working medical gasses as well as operational suction, patient beds and call lights. Nurses also have access to computers for documenting real-time 'patient' care, a fully stocked supply room from which to obtain equipment and a training Pyxis for retrieving 'patient' medications.

The simulation mannequins include three adult males, a birthing mother who delivers a premature infant, two newborns and a child. The mannequins offer pre-programmed scenarios and customized scenarios for specialized training.

Staff training in the simulation center can practice a wide range of advanced life-saving skills including CPR, trauma, bleeding control and first aid. The birthing mother affords practice in C-section and forceps delivery. The infant mannequins enable training in infant emergencies and neonatal care. The pediatric mannequin allows staff to practice core clinical skills.

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Required Training for New Nurses

While the simulation center is available for technicians, therapy departments and transport teams for training, recent nursing graduates are required to complete a one-week extensive course as part of a new graduate nurse orientation program. During this adjunct week of training, the nurses spend five, eight-hour days in the simulation center.

Throughout the training week, new nurses focus on critical thinking, outcomes and procedures and patient safety. Hands-on practice with equipment specific to Memorial is provided. New nurses also participate in presentations from subject-matter experts including infection prevention, risk management and clinical experts. Participation in rigorous scenarios with the patient simulators is incorporated into the training to put new knowledge into practice in a realistic environment.

Tests aren't administered, but pre- and post-program assessments reveal large gains in new nurses' confidence and skill levels. Small class sizes and a comfortable learning environment foster camaraderie among students that continues far beyond the new graduate nurse orientation week.

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Video Tour

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