Simulator Hones Nurses’ Pediatric Skills, April 14

Training sessions at Bay Area Hospital are a little more vivid since the arrival of a startlingly realistic infant mannequin. The wireless mannequin simulates a newborn – with lifelike symptoms, reactions and movements. A nurse can take the baby’s pulse, listen to heart and lung sounds, and hook up an intravenous line. Even a breathing tube can be inserted. Controlled by a tablet computer, the baby can move, cry, wheeze, turn blue from lack of oxygen, and even experience a seizure. “This allows us to practice in as real a situation as possible,” said Jennifer Johnson, a staff educator and registered nurse with 30 years’ experience at BAH. Sometimes a little too real. Watching a baby shake with convulsions can trigger uncomfortable emotions, even when the baby is obviously plastic. “Even though we know it’s a doll, we respond to it like it’s real,” Johnson said. “That’s the whole intent – to have it as real as it can be.” The mannequin hasn’t been named yet. Its manufacturer, Miami-based Gaumard Scientific Co., calls it a “HAL S3010,” but Johnson and her colleagues plan to give it a personalized identity. The new name will need to be unisex – like “Pat” or “Chris” – because the mannequin has interchangeable parts to simulate a baby boy or girl. It also has a detachable umbilical cord, allowing it to simulate a newborn or a slightly older baby. The simulator helps prepare nurses and other hospital personnel for real-life pediatric care scenarios, including emergencies, Johnson said. They can practice processes, teamwork and critical thinking skills. Later, they can watch a video playback to evaluate the exercise. Staff members have been enthusiastic about the realistic training. Johnson said a common response has been, “When can we do this again?”