As Technology Evolves, So Does Simulation

Technology now allows for human interaction in a safe, skills-based environment.

Share This Post

Healthcare training has evolved dramatically since its inception, thanks to changes in technology. However, at its core, it has always maintained a philosophy of being human-focused.

Initially, when nurses were expected to be proficient generalists, training was observation-based. A new nurse would follow an experience one and learn from their interactions. This training would last from two to three years, and once they graduated, the hospital that owned the training center would hire them as full-time nurses. Some hospital systems are returning to a similar model with Nurse Residency Programs for their hires fresh out of nursing school.

This modality of learning has evolved into the clinical experiences found in almost all healthcare programs. While clinical experiences offer students a chance to interact with patients, it isn’t quite the same as interacting the way a professional caregiver would. The experience is limited by the patient load, and learners are most often paired with stable patients. Understandably, hospitals want to keep the risk of errors low for the more at-risk patients, but the students can only learn from the patients they are assigned.

To create a controllable learning environment, many educators turned to use plastic manikins. While these manikins allow students to practice technical and higher-risk procedures, they are devoid of the human element. As a result, manikins can’t interact with learners in a meaningful way, and learners cannot practice communication – a vital skill in healthcare. Unfortunately, many programs still rely on this now-outdated modality, leaving gaps in a new provider’s skillset.

Thankfully, as technology evolves, so does our ability to create a safe, lifelike learning environment.

The current standard of human-based simulation marries the advantages of clinical encounters with simulation labs. With high-fidelity wearable devices on a live human (Simulated Participant), nursing students can practice technical and communication skills. An additional advantage is that a trained Simulated Participant can give feedback from the patient perspective.

With an increase in realism comes an increase in buy-in, and therefore more skills transfer between the simulation and a real-life encounter. If you would like to ensure that your learners are trained with the industry standard and maximize skills retention, please don’t hesitate to book a meeting.

(Visited 237 times, 1 visits today)

Subscribe To Our Blog

Get updates and learn from the best

More To Explore

Simulation Nation Podcast

Simulation Nation Guide to INACSL 2023

Nursing professionals and simulationists are gathering in just a few weeks for INACSL 2023!  Amy Cowperthwait CEO, RN, MSN, CNS, CHSE-A and Megan Weldon, CHSE sat down to discuss INACSL 2023 on Simulation Nation, a brand new podcast! In Episode 1, we go over everything you need to know about the kynotes at INACSl 2023.

simulated participant consulting

NAU Launches New Simulation Program with the Assistance of AvMentor

“I felt having live people (as opposed to mannequins) really helped bring reality to the situation” At the beginning of this year, Northern Arizona University (NAU) had begun their use of standardized Patients in simulation scenarios for their nursing students.  The use of a standardized patient program stems from the deployment of AvMentor at the

Get Your Resource

STANDARDIZED PATIENT JOB

GUIDE

Get Your Resource

PATHWAY FOR STANDARDZIED PATIENT PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY

Get Your Resource

SIMULATIONSISTS GUIDE TO CONGRESSIONAL FUNDING

Avtrach, a high-fidelity, wearable tracheostomy simulator, is designed to replicate an anterior thorax so tracheostomy care and suctioning can be authentically replicated in simulation. Through a Bluetooth connection between Avtrach and the Avkin app, an assortment of lung sounds can be changed at any time by the educator from the control room. These lungs allow for the Avtrach to be connected to a ventilator and the patient to be in line with suctioning.

Wearable Tracheostomy Simulator

Avwound, a high-fidelity, wearable wound care simulator, is the most significant technological advancement for wound care in the industry. Learners can assess, measure, document, and provide care for all four stages of pressure wounds in addition to an assortment of surgical wounds providing educators with maximum flexibility for wound care education.

Wearable Wound Care Simulator

Meant to replace the need for including bulky ineffective earpieces in simulation, Avband, is a smartwatch look-a-like for inconspicuous 3-way communication between the control room, patient, and Avkin simulators. An alert button on the side of the product allows the live patient to send a panic notification to the control room if they feel psychologically and/or physically unsafe at any time during the simulation.

Simulated Participant Cueing Device

With the world’s only fully-automated, wearable birthing simulator, Avbirth, you can now include learning objectives such as closed-looped communication with an interprofessional team and therapeutic communication with the patient and their significant other through all phases of labor and delivery. Avbirth pairs with the Avkin App, allowing a multitude of simulations to be performed, including additional challenges for the development of critical thinking, such as shoulder dystocia or postpartum hemorrhage.

Simulated Birthing Device

Avcath, a high-fidelity, wearable urinary catheterization simulator, seamlessly replicates the human urinary system. The interchangeable male (circumcised or uncircumcised) and female genitalia allows learners to practice various types of urinary catheterization while also practicing essential communication skills. Our genitalia is made with high-quality silicone, allowing learners to use betadine and lubrication right out of their kits.

Wearable Urinary Catheterization Simulator

Avline, a wearable central line simulator, delivers a high-fidelity patient experience for a multitude of central venous care (CVC) simulations. This innovative simulator has two options for central venous treatment and care, a right subclavian triple lumen or a left subclavian implanted port; each option is removable, allowing the educator flexibility with learning outcomes.

Wearable Central Line Simulator

Avstick, a wearable IV simulator worn as a left-arm sleeve, allows learners to practice high-fidelity IV insertion during simulation. The wearable simulator cues the live patient wearing the sleeve through haptic vibration when the needle first pierces the smart skin. Multiple layers of woven plastic have been integrated into premium silicone to protect the wearer from any harm during the simulation.

Wearable IV Simulator

Avtone, the world’s only wearable auscultation simulator, offers a compact and lightweight design, comfortable for the live patient to wear. An anatomically correct chest piece allows novice and advanced students to identify proper landmarks just as they would in the clinical setting. Volume controls allow learners and educators to pinpoint the finer details of the actual patient recorded sounds contained within the Avtone.

Wearable Auscultation Simulator

Avthor, a wearable chest tube care simulator, replicates the intrathoracic pressures needed to realistically teach the assessment and care of a patient with a chest tube. When pairing the Avthor with a live patient, the simulation can include repositioning, transferring, and/or ambulating a patient with a chest tube.

Wearable Chest Tube Care Simulator

Get Your Resource

ACCESS AVKIN'S PRICING BROCHURE NOW.

Get Your Resource

EMPOWER YOURSELF TO DISCUSS PROGRAM CHANGES WITH LEADERSHIP.

Get Your Resource

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN AVKIN'S SIMULATIONS, MEET YOUR NEWEST PATIENT, JACOB.

KBPort's BPSim is a blood pressure cuff simulator. Used just like any other blood pressure cuff, the readings are controlled via a smartphone app. It can be programmed for any blood pressure range, including hypotension, normal, pre-hypertension, hypertension (stages 1 & 2), and hypertensive crisis.

BPSim

Getting accurate vital signs is critical when assessing a patient. With Innov2Learn's Thermometer and Oximeter devices, your learners will use real devices to capture and record simulated readings. No longer will you have to break fidelity to provide vital signs to your learners

Innov2Learn Pulse OX

Quality training is the most important element of working with live people in simulations. An untrained simulated participant (SP) can challenge the efficacy of your learning opportunities. A well-trained simulated participant (SP) can bring your simulations to life in ways you never thought possible. With all of this in mind, training an entire group of SPs can be time-consuming and feel intimidating.

Desktop

Innov2Learn's training devices function the same as any thermometer or oximeter you would find in a clinic. Your learners will take vital signs using real devices with readouts you control via Bluetooth. You can use a smartphone app or desktop computer.

Innov2Learn Thermometer

Get Your Resource

9 KEYS TO HIGH FIDELITY SIMULATION WITH LIVE PEOPLE​

Get Your Resource

STANDARDIZED PATIENT CHARACTER DESCRIPTION OUTLINE

Get Your Resource

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR STANDARDIZED PATIENT ONBOARDING

Get Your Resource

STANDARDIZED PATIENT FEEDBACK TEMPLATE

Get Your Resource

STANDARDIZED PATIENT SAMPLE JOB POSTING

Get Your Resource

5 KEYS TO CONSIDER WHEN UTILIZING STANDARDIZED PATIENTS

Get Your Resource

A SIMULATIONIST'S GUIDE TO HIGH FIDELITY SIMULATION