Nursing students now have the benefit of a state-of the-art high tech simulation laboratory that will ultimately make the Bermuda College more competitive in providing nursing education in Bermuda.

The new lab contains a viewing classroom and also features mannequins that can be programmed to speak and exhibit various symptoms right down to “crying out in pain”.

It will provide “first class teaching and learning for students while providing competency training for healthcare professionals throughout the Island”.

Director of Nursing Education Kathy-Ann Swan said the teaching and learning centre will “prepare graduates for employment in the real world”.

“We wanted to ensure that our students receive training on the most up-to-date equipment,” she said.

“The lab helps us to prepare graduates for employment in the real world. This is a true example of being efficient and effective in these challenging times.

“Healthcare is becoming more complex, however, we must also address the nursing shortage of which Bermuda is not exempt. The main impetus behind the lab was the need to ensure our students experience as many real life health situations as possible.

“The lab will allow us to expose our students to as many acute, general, long-term care, paediatric maternal child scenarios as possible. The simulator makes it easier for the nursing students to learn.

“The more simulation the more prepared they are for their nursing career. Simulation not only promotes competence, but team work and confidence as well.”

On hand to cut the ribbon to open the facility and launch Science Week at the college campus was Education Minister Dr Grant Gibbons.

Nurse educator Renee Faulcon who returned to Bermuda after teaching in a similar associate of science degree programme said the new lab has far reaching benefits.

“This new model of learning can potentially lead to improved patient outcomes which is what every healthcare institution wants to hear,” she said.

The programme, designed not only for nursing students, will also “improve the competency for the newly registered nurse graduate or the experienced registered nurse”.

“Simulation is a learning activity in nursing education that allows the facilitator to provide scenarios that mimic the reality of the clinical environment. It can be designed to illustrate decision making skills and critical thinking, very important for nursing.

“Integrating simulation in the curriculum provides an opportunity for Bermuda College to be competitive in nursing education demonstrating a working knowledge of the current trends in the delivery of innovative teaching methods and active learning strategies.

“The research is showing that simulation in nursing education is becoming an acceptable and even preferred method for student learning. It is becoming evident that students prefer simulation over other types of instruction.

“It allows them time to participate in his or her own learning achieving outcomes that may not be met in the traditional clinical environment,” said Ms Faulcon.

Two demonstrations were held after the conference featuring the two high fidelity human patient simulators, a male and a female, referred to as ‘Sim Man and Sim Woman’.

‘Sim Woman’ was named Eve Sim and ‘Sim Man’ was named Nelson Bermyman, in honour of the late former Health Minister Nelson Bascome. Eve Sim simulated the birth of a baby and Nelson Bermyman simulated the distress of a typical 40-year-old male “who doesn’t eat right and drinks a little too much”.

Both simulators can be set up to go through virtually any scenario from strokes, road accidents or a diabetic induced coma. Ms Faulcon said: “They both breathe, they both have heart beats and bowel sounds”.

Ms Faulcon added: “The goal of nursing education is to graduate qualified competent nursing students who will provide safe and effective patient care. Utilising the patient simulator will assist with achieving this goal by setting up scenarios to encourage critical thinking, clinical judgement leading to improved patient outcome in the clinical setting and improve student learning outcomes in the academic setting.”

The lab was developed in conjunction with the Bermuda Hospitals Board, Bermuda Fire and Rescue and the Department of Corrections.

For more information contact Evelyn James Barnett at 239-4006 or ebarnett@college.bm