National Nursing Week

4 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2017 MODEL PATIENTS MANNEQUINS ARE IDEAL FOR TRAINING NURSING STUDENTS By Holli Moncrieff for the Free Press New students at the University of Manitoba's College of Nursing are often startled to see mannequins in the lab. Especially when the mannequins talk! #YESThisIsNursing MAY 8-14, 2017 NATIONAL NURSING WEEK 2017 Nursing school can be hectic and stressful, so it's understandable that instructors like to lighten the mood from time to time — especially with green students. "We have the students go through a tour when they're brand new, and we have to have a bit of fun, so we'll make the mannequins cough or say hello," says Nicole Harder, a registered nurse and assistant professor of the College of Nursing. "It's a little shocking at first when they start talking to you, but by the time we get the students through the program, they (consider the mannequins) buddies." The mannequins are about so much more than fun and games, though. Harder explains that all health disciplines are using simulations more than ever before to help train students. "It's all about patient safety. The first time a student goes through a situation, it will be with a mannequin instead of a patient," she says. "Lots of research has been done that shows it's an effective way for students to develop their clinical skills early. Our students are a lot quicker to respond to patients' needs after working with the mannequins." These high-fidelity models can blink and breathe. They have heart and lung sounds and can be programmed to display a range of ailments and physiological changes. Instructors can use a variety of prompts and cues to help nursing students diagnose each patient. "Students can see what's happening on monitors. They can perform CPR on the mannequins, and see how well they're doing it," Harder says. "You can keep doing it until you get it right." Turns out these "living" dolls have far more in common with flight simulators than they do with your average department store mannequin. "A lot of this came from the aviation industry. Through flight simulators, pilots are able to get out and practice their skills before they ever fly a plane." Currently, the College of Nursing has six of the high-tech mannequins, with two more on the way. This second generation of mannequin is quieter, easier to program, and more realistic than the previous generation, which the university began using in 2006. There are adult models, children around six years old, and a labour-and-delivery duo of a mother and her baby. "The students deliver the baby and do a newborn assessment — the baby is really cool," says Harder. "The only limit to what these mannequins can do is your imagination." Aside from the mother, all of the adult mannequins are male. "We have interchangeable genitalia, but there are some limitations," Harder says. A dedicated team is responsible for making sure the mannequins are always ready to be put into service. Makeup and eyelashes help the mannequins appear more lifelike and realistic, and these have to be reapplied on a regular basis. "We have staff who are responsible for all the mannequins," says Harder. "The mannequins have to have someone who loves them and takes care of them." ✚ "IT'S A LITTLE SHOCKING AT FIRST WHEN THEY START TALKING TO YOU, B UT BY THE TIME WE GET THE STUDENTS THROUGH THE PROGRAM, THEY (CONSIDER THE MANNEQUINS) BUDDIES." PHOTO BY DARCY FINLEY University of Manitoba College of Nursing assistant professor Nicole Harder and two of the mannequin patients.

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