Has anyone ever heard or used one of these before?  They say it's like a high tech "resuscitator annie."The new program that is starting up here in my area is going to use those because the hospital here in town doesn't do critical type care.  Everyone says that they are great but I think real life is better.  What do you all think?

We use them here at the hospital and in our clinicals. Ours are the type that talk to us, can bleed, and other things! They have pulses, heartbeat, and breath sounds that can be changed accordingly. The eyes can even blink. They are really great for practice when you are simulating a code, practicing more evasive procedures without worrying about causing harm to an actual patient. If you screw up, it gives you the opportunity to see where the mistake was made so that it does not happen again. Good luck!

You must live on the east side of the mountains. I live on the west side. True, small hospitals do not give you the best clinical situation, unfortunately, hopefully you will get the opportunity to see more. See if they will be doing outrotations in Spokane. Next quarter we will be going to Western state hospital for a couple of days and then to Mary Bridge hospital for a couple of more. If we are lucky we will be able to go into the hospital before the Spring quarter. If not, we will be doing alot of nursing home, care plans. med passes. Hang in there, it will get better!

lizbaby75tn says ...

I didn't even realized you lived in Washington.  Actually I am not in the program just yet.  I will finish up my pre-reqs this spring.  This program is only going to do one weekend in Spokane, and that isn't enough for me.  I have decided to go to the Spokane nursing program.  Sacred Heart is suppose to be a great teaching hospital.  What college are you going too?  This program that is coming to our area is Lower Columbia College, RONE program.  LCC is out west there.  And besides, this program is only going to let 5 people get in the program.  And you can only get in once a year.  There are way too many of us to get in the first time around.  They also have a admissions testing to get in, where Spokane doesn't.  Plus you have to have your CNA before you can get into the program, whereas Spokane includes it.  Just doesn't sound to great to me.  Spokane's program is 8 months to a year waiting list right now.  They admit students twice a year. 

For clinicals, I want more hands on, and not computers.  This hospital can't show me everything and one weekend out of the whole two years just isn't enough in my book to go to Spokane.  On these computers, can you start IV's on them?  I just don't see them being true to life.

Yes, depending on the kind of simulator it is, you can. You will also have the opportunity to work on mannequin arms as well. Sounds like this is a new bare bones program that is just starting. Most programs are very hard to get into. The university of washington had 80 slots for their program but had over 2,000 applicants. Needless to say, some did not make it. I go to a small community college on the coast about 125 miles south of Seattle. They have had their problems too, but have worked most of the kinks out. Unfortunately no one gets enough time on the floor anymore so clinical lab time has to make up for it. When you are on the floor, hook up with a nurse and ask lots of questions, try to get in on at least observing procedures so that you can get the jest of it. Most programs require the CNA license now. Sacred heart is good but as you said is in great demand. Hang in there, get good grades and you have a good shot of making it in first round for the following year. Good luck!

AmyAJ says ...

We have one in our program called Mr. Sims.  I dont respond to him like I would a human.  Last semester we teamed up with another student and went in to assess him as he was going into respiratory distress. We had to moniter him, put an IV in etc.. It was kind of nerve wrecking as we had a teacher plus 2 other peers observing us and writing down what we did that was good and bad.  I didnt like it. We have to do these simulations every semester.

Yeah, know what you mean, we did a similar scenario this past quarter. I was being observed by 3 instructors, 10 students and guess who recapped the needle the wrong way? God, I looked up realizing I had screwed up and there was my clinical instructor with a grimace on her face and everybody scribbling furiously on their papers. I just wanted to sink into the floor. We all had a good laugh about it later, believe me I haven't done that since! Good luck in your clinicals!