Blinn College simulation programs provide targeted trainings with primarily 4 different modalities: Skills/Task Trainer Simulation, Manikin-based Simulation, Standardized Patient Simulation, and Virtual Reality Simulation.
- Skills/TaskTrainer Simulation allows the student to practice basic skills on task trainers to ensure patient safety and comfort. At Blinn, students attain individual improvement from the ability to practice a variety of skills, such as suturing, dissection, and pattern cutting. These training procedures range from the basics, such as drawing blood, to more sophisticated procedures, such as endovascular surgery and trauma care. This type of training improves critical thinking, decision making, and clinical techniques all without risk to a real patient.
- Manikin-Based Simulation technology provides healthcare students with the opportunity to practice procedures and diagnostic methods on computer-based models in realistic clinical scenarios. Blinn College manikin simulators allow students to practice and fine-tune procedures using life-size patient models that breathe, have a pulse and a heartbeat, and show true to life vital signs. This simulated patient can be programmed to display a variety of medical emergencies such as a heart attack or stroke. They can simulate major trauma or injury, give birth, and talk. These computer-based patients also can respond to medications and anesthesia gases.
- The Standardized Patient Program at Blinn College has over 30 Standardized Patients in the program. This program offers live-action simulation in clinical scenarios where patient communication is the primary focus. This type of simulation pairs technical skill with experiential learning to help learners build crucial communication soft-skills necessary for patient care while administering health care. In more complex simulation scenarios, a standardized patient can be paired with a task trainer providing learners an opportunity to perform more invasive skills on the task trainer instead of an actual person. This provides a more realistic experience for learners. Standardized patients may also be "made-up" to simulate traumatic injuries (moulage) or to more closely match the patient bio-demographics.
- Virtual Reality Simulation at Blinn College utilizes some variety with its programs, including a Virtual Reality IV training system. The Adult Virtual IV Self-Directed Learning System includes 150 distinct case scenarios. Each is customized to one of three areas: in-hospital, pre-hospital and military care providers. 42 unique, anatomically accurate, interactive 3-D arm models span human variation in terms of ethnicity, size, age, and sex, guaranteeing learners access to a diverse group of patients.
The following patient simulators are available to support the instruction activates of the Allied Health Programs:
- Laerdal Medical Corporation
- Nursing Anne with VitalSim Technology
- Nursing Kelly with VitalSim Technology
- Nursing Kid with VitalSim Technology
- Nursing Baby with VitalSim Technology
- SimMan Classic
- SimMan 3G
- SimMan Essential
- Advanced Video Systems
- Harvey - The Cardiopulmonary Patient Simulator
Cameras and microphones in most simulation rooms allow activities to be observed and recorded.
The NLN (National League for Nursing) has developed many of the simulations used in our facility for student engagement and learning. www.sirc.nln.org