<h4>OB Boot Camp: Maternity Simulators in Clinical Education</h4>
<p>Clinical simulation models have been shown to be an effective nursing education technology (Johnson, Zerwic, & theis, 1999). This technology has undergone recent innovations in the area of birthing simulation. Maternity simulators are life-like manikins that can represent maternity clients for nursing and medical students. Simulators can vary from simple partial body models to full-body electronic simulators with fetal heartbeats and mechanical mechanisms to propel a manikin fetus through the pelvis. These simulators perform the cardinal movements of labor and birth, and the neonatal models can simulate the transition of the newborn to extra-uterine life. Some models can be attached to a computer so students can practice live-action fetal heartbeat and labor scenarios. [more...]</p>
Background: Providing patient care by using the most cost effective means has compelled skill mix changes in many hospitals. The need for educational programs are crucial to prepare unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) for their new roles.
Method: Using a competency-based approach, an educational program was designed to develop specific technical skills to target complex competencies and to improve the participants' knowledge and skill performance. The educational program met the five program objectives.
Results: Unlicensed assistive personnel gained knowledge and competency in new skills, as assessed in the education program and when applied in the clinical units. The most important outcome was the participants' expressed eagerness to learn more and their desire to work as contributing members of the health care team.
Conclusion: The educational program adequately trained UAP and created a foundation of relationships and teamwork that enhanced the patient care delivery with cost efficiency.
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