VGCC Plans for High-Tech Health-care Training
Vance-Granville Community College held a reception, briefing, and demonstration on July 25 to shed light on its vision for the future of local health care education. Entitled “Simulation and Technology,” the event at the Civic Center on VGCC’s Main Campus brought together educators, medical professionals, and many other citizens. Guests were treated to a demonstration of state-of-the-art technology that can replace the relatively simple manikins currently used by nursing students. VGCC President Randy Parker and others discussed plans to create a Clinical Simulation Center.
Representatives of the Laerdal Medical company demonstrated some of their technology, including Laerdal’s “SimMan” and “SimBaby” products. According to Laerdal’s medical education specialist, Joe Huse, more SimMan systems are owned by nursing programs than by any other category of customers. Huse said that the SimMan can simulate everything that a human does, with the exceptions of sweating and walking. SimMan, a model the size of an average adult male, is programmed to simulate a wide range of illnesses and injuries, and is attached to a laptop computer and flat-screen monitor.
“We are already producing great nurses, but imagine how much more we could accomplish with this new technology,” noted VGCC Director of Nursing Renee Hill. “Our mission is to protect the public, as well as to provide educational opportunities,” she added, emphasizing that using simulation during training should lead to fewer errors by nurses in real-life situations.
Products such as SimMan and SimBaby are sophisticated and costly, so VGCC Endowment Fund director Phillip Cates encouraged those present to think “outside the box” about how to finance the new simulation center.
“I believe the event was a success,” Dr. Angela Ballentine, VGCC Dean of Health Sciences, said later. “I was excited to see so many individuals in attendance and so interested in what we are doing in the Health Sciences division. I was also happy to hear so many positive comments about the concept of a regional state-of-the-art Simulation Center. It is my sincere hope that we can continue to keep the community informed of what we are doing and what our vision is for the future of health care education as well as the future of VGCC. I would like to thank all of our constituents for their continued support of our mission, our vision and our passion.”
According to the Institute of Medicine, “Simulation training is rapidly advancing as an important component of nursing and medical education.” The IOM recommends that simulation be used wherever and whenever possible. Simulation presents patient care learning opportunities for the student without having a live patient present. It provides students with the chance to think “on their feet” in a non-stressful, safe environment. Simulation also enhances critical thinking and problem-solving by offering students real-life patient situations.
Occupational opportunities in the health care field, such as nursing, are growing, according to information from the NC Employment Security Commission. Registered nursing, Practical nursing, and Radiography are among the top five “hot” college programs in the nation, according to the American Association of Community Colleges.
Above: VGCC nursing students examine the SimMan model during a demonstration of new simulation technology (VGCC Photo).
