THE NMU SCHOOL OF NURSING
The second floor of the Science Building has multiple simulation labs that allow students at all levels—BSN, MSN and DNP—to learn patient care in a safe, nonthreatening, controlled environment. The labs are simulated patient care settings that are equipped with realistic patient simulators, furnishings, and supplies that would be necessary to provide real patient care. This includes hospital beds, IV fluid/medication set-up, oxygen set-up, suction and electronic medical records. Patient simulators range from low fidelity to high fidelity, which can be described as the level of realism. For example, some of the features of the high fidelity, or highly realistic, manikin Laerdal SimMan 3G include heart, lung and bowel sounds, blinking, talking, sweating, IV access, chest rise and fall and pulses.
Additionally, in a unique partnership, theatre and dance students have the opportunity to hone their acting skills through playing the role of standardized patients during simulations. Nursing students are then able to interact with these “patients” while practicing their nursing skills.
Last year, through gifts from private donors, two new long-term care beds, and realistic IV and catheter models were procured, increasing student confidence and competency.
Surgical Technology Lab
Surgical technologists play a critical role in operating rooms. To prepare for this highly skilled profession, NMU students in the associate and bachelor’s degree programs practice skills in the School of Clinical Sciences’ Surgical Technology lab. They learn to identify surgical instruments and their purposes, use proper sterile techniques, arrange equipment, properly set up an operating room and support physicians performing surgeries, delivering babies or working with bones and muscles.
Students also learn about human anatomy and physiology and have access to a laparoscopic surgical simulator.
Specialty simulation labs include:
- Maternity Nursing Simulation Room
- Drake Family Pediatric Care Simulation Lab
- Pediatric Simulation Lab
- Benda-Drake Critical Care Lab
- Adult Simulation Lab
- Multi-Disciplinary Room
- Olive Pendill Home Care Suite for simulating nursing care in the typical home setting.
