Editor:
I read your article "High-tech Medi-Man Helps Teach Nursing Students", in the Sunday, Dec.2 issue of the News-Sun regarding Azure College's Nursing Program's acquisition of a patient simulator.
I would like to point out that your statements, "The tool is the first of its kind in the Heartland" and "the only Medi-Man anywhere around here" are not entirely true. South Florida State College's Nursing and EMS Programs have been using simulators since 2008 with much success. Azure's MetiMan simulator is manufactured by METI and South Florida State College's SimMan is manufactured by Laerdal. Both MetiMan and SimMan, come equipped with a mouth and airway, are able to blink and speak, have expandable chest walls, and generate programmable audible lung and heart sounds.
All but a handful of nursing programs in Florida have incorporated simulation in their curricula, allowing students to experience real-life patient situations before actual contact with humans. Mismanaging treatment on a simulator in the lab is far less traumatic and messy than making poor decisions when treating a human being. Research has proven that learning in a safe environment gives students more confidence to interact with live patients. Programs recognized by the Florida Board of Nursing are allowed to use simulators for up to 25 percent of required clinical hours. Although they serve students well, they do not quite have the personality of living breathing patients.
Since 2008, South Florida State College instructors have become experts in patient simulation exercises and have made presentations at two national conferences. Their academic presentation, "Mini-Simulations: Maximum Results", was well received. Because of this exposure, other college's nursing faculty, including Harvard's, requested examples of SFSC simulation cases.
It is good that Azure is incorporating simulators into their nursing curricula, but they are certainly not the first in the Heartland to use these valuable tools.
Rebecca Sroda
Associate Dean, Allied Health
South Florida State College
Wednesday, December 12, 2012 - www.newssun.com/ltr-121212-sroda