Simulation

What is Healthcare Simulation

Simulation-based clinical education is an integral part of nursing education at GateWay Community College. Nursing students engage in opportunities to practice their clinical and decision-making skills through varied real-life clinical situational experiences, without compromising the patient’s well-being. Our students have the most advanced technological simulators available for multi-level skills and patient practice in a safe environment. One common way students will learn to communicate with patients is through real conversation with the simulators and the faculty. The simulation lab is a realistic clinical environment for students to practice the application of nursing theory as an undergraduate nursing student. Students will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge of learned skills and direct application in the hospital environment of the simulation lab. Simulation education bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-life nursing practice, filled with equipment and simulation tools.

Faculty for Simulation Education are guided by The National Council of State Boards of Nursing

Faculty are able to specialize simulation scenarios relating to safe patient care in the following ways: 

  • Reduces training variability and increases standardization
  • Can be customized for individualized learning
  • Is truly student-centered, experiential learning instead of passive learning
  • Allows for independent critical-thinking and decision-making, and delegation
  • Allows Immediate feedback
  • Offers opportunity to practice rare and critical events
  • Can be designed and manipulated
  • Allows calibration and update
  • Can be reproduced
  • Occurs on schedule
  • Offers opportunities to make and learn from mistakes
  • Is safe and respectful for patients

The effects of teamwork in simulation is a shared goal and commitment

It represents a powerful unit of collective performance, which can be done as an individual or mutually. These must eventually translate common purpose into specific performance goals. One of the important ingredients of teams with good outcomes is the basic discipline of the team. Simulation training and practice affords the essentials for creating an effective medical team with a sense of group identity, group efficacy, and trust amongst members. There needs to be true engagement and understanding for team members to work together well. Examples of these can be seen in the incredible teamwork and excellent team dynamics that can exist during good resuscitation, certain surgery, and the more complex intensive care cases. Members who have had sufficient training and knowledge can be flexible enough to adapt to any new situation and break out of their ingrained routines and they get more proficient with time. Each member of such a health care team can carry out another team member’s job, which reflects their interdependence. A learning team will have some degree of substitution, defined roles and responsibilities, flexibility, good process flow, and an awareness of common goals.