iStan Comes Alive at Edison

Recently the Human Patient Simulator or iStan came to class for nursing students at Edison Community College.  The Human Patient Simulator was used to demonstrate the care of a patient after cardiac surgery.  During the course of care, the nursing students assessed the patient for heart and lung sounds, read the patient’s cardiac monitor and hemodynamic wave forms.  Medications were administered and the patient’s response was observed on the monitors.  The iStan coughed and wheezed and indicated changes in the rate and quality of breathing.  

Human Patient Simulators like iStan are used around the world to educate nurses and other health care providers.  These simulators breathe, bleed, talk, blink, suffer heart attacks, drug overdoses, and even suffer the effects of weapons of mass destruction and bio-terrorism.  They provide safe and efficient opportunities for student to practice patient care in a controlled and repeatable environment.
 
Students reported high levels of satisfaction with the Human Patient Simulator experience.  100% rated as agree or strongly agree that the iStan allowed for a realistic display of patient symptoms and realistic, safe nursing interventions.  One student wrote: “This is the most realistic experience I have seen available for a nursing student.  It is very helpful to see the effect of nursing interventions rather than an instructor saying, “Let’s assume the blood pressure is decreasing.” 

A recent grant from the Piqua Community Foundation purchased the hospital furniture used to create iStan’s simulation lab.  Julia Galbreath, associate professor of Nursing at Edison, stated, “The faculty certainly appreciate the support of the Piqua Community Foundation in helping to create the Human Patient Simulation Lab for Nursing at Edison Community College.  We see the use of the Human Patient Simulator as an important aspect of nursing education in the future.”

Edison student Laura Platfoot practices medical care on iStan.  The class of third semester nursing students and Associate Professor Ken Knapke (far right) observe.

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