3 Ways Simulation Helps Nurses

Patient simulators are expensive to create and to maintain.  But, they are technology that is worth every penny.  Each opportunity the simulators have to train a nursing student or other practicing health care provider gives a patient that much more of a chance to be treated in a quick and effective manner.  Patient simulators make it much easier to learn how to treat a patient for nursing students.  Let’s look at why patient simulators are so important and how they can help everyone involved in the process.

Supporting Nursing Students

Nurses are an important part of the healthcare field, and we should support anyone who wants to work in the field, whether they be male or female. Instead of focusing on empty appeals to get more men to sign up to become nurses, we should focus our attention at supporting the nurses we have and encouraging anyone in school to become a nurse to continue their education.

Supporting Registered Nurses

Regulations regarding continuing education credits vary from state to state.  However, registered nurses must continue to take courses and learn about advances in both medicine and in medical technology.  Courses are offered on patient advocacy and basic patient psychology, as well.  Study.com reports that employers may even require continuing education for nurses to stay actively employed.  These requirements can also be demanded of LPNs and other nursing staff.

When nurses of all levels, who are currently employed, get the chance to utilize patient simulators, they are able to grasp the new information more quickly.  Many nurses learn by actually performing the task.  Performing the task on a non-living, but very realistic patient gives the nurse a chance to take the risk necessary to learn the task.

Supporting Nursing Instructors

The Laerdal website reads, “In due course the nurse educators recognized that the quality of instruction had improved because the students” training needs were now better accommodated.”  The site also quotes Dean for Health, Care and Nursing Roger Lian “”I am strongly convinced that simulation training contributes to strengthen the quality of care and that it will enable us to meet the demands of tomorrow.””

When students quickly grasp the concepts taught by the instructors, the instructors can delve deeper into the subject matter.  Students can understand why the various situations may arise and also how to possibly prevent them.  More time can be spent on the topics not immediately understood by students.  Learning becomes more individualized.  Both the teachers and the students benefit.

Patient simulators are an extremely valuable technology.  They improve the lives of patients by allowing better training for nurses on all levels.  As the technology gets more realistic, healthcare practitioners learn more and patient health improves vastly.