BRISTOL, Conn.—Bristol Hospital dedicated its new Simulation Room today with a special ribbon cutting ceremony. The Simulation Room is located on Level B of the hospital’s Center for Surgery and Endoscopy.
The Simulation Room—which includes two high-fidelity mannequins—can be used by all members of the health care team including nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists and patient care associates. Simulation is an educational strategy in which a particular set of conditions are created or replicated to resemble authentic situations that are possible in real life for the purpose of promoting, improving, or validating participant performance.
“The Simulation Room represents Bristol Hospital’s commitment to continuing education and enhances our clinical practice with outcomes-based education,” said Bristol Hospital Vice President of Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer Chris Ann Meaney, DNP, MHA, RN-BC, NE-BC, FACHE. “We never had a dedicated simulation room like this which will be used as part of the orientation for a wide range of caregivers.”
The two high-fidelity mannequins housed in the Bristol Hospital Simulation Room are incredibly life like and incorporate the latest in computer technology. The mannequins have lung sounds, heart sounds, and bowel sounds as well as palpable pulses. Verbal communication between the mannequin and participants is possible in real time via the facilitator’s voice or preprogrammed sounds. Through participating in simulated clinical experiences, participants gain the knowledge and skills needed for clinical practice.
One of the main advocates and consultants for the new Bristol Hospital Simulation Room is Mary Ann Cordeau, PhD, RN, who is a member of the Bristol Hospital Board of Directors. Dr. Cordeau also is an associate professor in the School of Nursing at Quinnipiac University and has been involved in the development of evidence-based simulation educational practices since 2006.
“The evidence demonstrates the impact of simulation on individual and interprofessional education. Participation in interprofessional simulation-based experiences enhances communication skills, teamwork, and makes individuals feel valued,” Dr. Cordeau said. “The bottom line is that this is all about patient safety— simulation-based learning experiences help participants develop clinical judgment. When participating in simulation-based learning experiences, participants apply their knowledge and skills to the patient situation. Following the simulation experience participants reflect on their practice through a debriefing session. During debriefing participants receive feedback and are encouraged to share feelings and thoughts related to performance and how they will transfer what they have learned to future situations.”
The Simulation Room was funded in part by Waterbury-based C&H Electric, which made a generous gift to the project. Bristol Hospital and Health Care Group President and CEO Kurt A. Barwis, FACHE, made a donation as well.
“Simulation has been used in nursing education for more than 100 years,” Dr. Cordeau said. “Simulation has evolved and improved with technology to the point where it promotes the acquisition of the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the holistic care needs of our patients.”