Image courtesy of news.illinoisstate.edu
NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State University’s Mennonite College of Nursing has opened its new simulation lab, which is officially up and running for student use.
Associate Dean of Academics Susie Watkins highlights that the new lab offers much more than just hands-on learning opportunities.
“This will also allow us to admit 100 more students per academic year,” Watkins said. “This helps to fill the nursing drought throughout Illinois, which is expected to increase over the next 10 years.”
While the lab is still undergoing exterior construction, it successfully met its goal of being open for student use by August.
The new lab offers hands-on experience that closely mimics real hospital situations. Students can practice a range of scenarios, including mass trauma, childbirth, administering injections, inserting IVs and emergency care all within a controlled environment that eliminates the pressure of working with real patients.
To facilitate these experiences, the lab is equipped with projection rooms that can simulate various scenarios, such as tornadoes or parking lot emergencies.
Additionally, the lab features highly realistic mannequins that provide valuable learning opportunities. These advanced mannequins are designed to simulate human responses to medications and emergency situations, offering students a more lifelike training experience.
“When you’re out in the field, it’s really nerve-wracking dealing with those patients for the first time, ” says senior nursing student Tyler Utt. “So, in the lab it’s in the back of your mind that they are actors, and you are in a safe environment and able to make mistakes.”
Utt emphasizes that the simulation technology and supportive staff creates a low-risk environment for students.
“Every professor is ready to help and is so encouraging when working through the fake scenarios,” says Utt.
The lab is expected to be fully completed by the end of October.