High Fidelity Simulation Center
Opened in June of 2008, the UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing Simulation Center was created in part by a grant from the Scaife Foundation. The center's mission is to immerse the student nurse in a realistic clinical setting to practice a variety of patient care processes, eliminating the potential for real patient harm. Simulation activities are an educational adjunct to traditional theory and clinical program requirements throughout the curriculum.
The Simulation Center has a centralized control center and two hospital rooms. The high fidelity "patients" are SimMan® 3G from Laerdal Medical and Noelle®, a birthing simulator from Gaumard Scientific, two of the most technologically advanced simulators to date. Additionally, the center has various pediatric mannequins: Baby Hal® from Gaumard Scientific and Mega Code Kid and SimBaby™ from Laerdal.
The state-of-the-art audio visual recording system has been provided by Kb Port LLC of Alison Park, Pa. The center has been designated as one of the company's beta test sites for all new products. A mock nursing station with electronic medical record capabilities, as well as an automated medication delivery system from McKesson, are contained in the simulation suite to replicate the clinical environment.
The Simulation Center is utilized year round by more than half of the courses within the curriculum. More than 600 nursing students from the school have utilized the center multiple times, and collaborations are underway to include other disciplines in health care education.