Wearable Prosthetic Simulators

The Simulation Center has the most advanced wearable prosthetic simulators available. The utilization of Standardized Patient (SP) actors wearing these prosthetic simulators offers our learners fully interactive clinical virtual encounters that feel more physically and psychologically immersive than in scenarios where such technology is not used. In these hybrid simulation scenarios, SPs interact cognitively, socially, emotionally, and physically with CHHS students to provide the most realistic clinical settings.

During SP wearable simulation scenarios, students are immersed in meaningful social practice environments where they can insert peripheral IV catheters, provide tracheal suctioning care, insert foley catheters, listen to heart and lung sounds, measure blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and heart rate. While completing such procedural tasks, students concurrently practice patient-centered care by communicating, comforting and educating a variety of SP actors who represent the diversity of our local community.

In the simulation pictured above, Dr. Teena Milligan, Assistant Professor of Nursing, is demonstrating the tracheal suctioning procedure with an SP who is wearing a tracheostomy chest simulator. The carina nerve sensor in the simulator will vibrate when touched by the inserted suctioning catheter cuing SP to cough up simulated mucus ensuring a realistic suctioning experience for students.

In this photo, Dr. Teena Milligan is demonstrating inserting a peripheral IV catheter. The wearable simulation sleeve cues the SP to “feel” the stick through a haptic vibration when the needle first pierces the simulator’s skin, and students can confirm correct needle placement with realistic blood flowing into the flashback chamber of the IV catheter.