Medical simulators range from static, or still, mannequins that allow healthcare professionals to practice procedures like inserting intravenous (IV) lines, to programmable mannequins that can provide a good approximation of a true medical emergency.
At Purdue University School of Nursing in West Lafayette, Indiana, mannequins like Sim Man, Sim Baby, Pedia-Sim (a child) and Noelle (a pregnant woman) provide healthcare workers with the opportunity to practice complex scenarios in their chosen clinical specialties.
Medical simulation exercises teach practitioners from different healthcare disciplines to respect each other's expertise, and to work collaboratively for the benefit of their patients.
According to Purdue's clinical simulation expert Susan Fisher, RN, medical simulators provide healthcare workers with a chance to stay prepared for life-threatening clinical situations that don't occur regularly in the healthcare setting.
Simulation technology allows clinicians to hone their expertise in a safe environment without negatively impacting patient care.