Computerized manikins teach future nurses

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State University took a major step into the future of nursing education with the dedication of the new John and Dorothy Masternick Nursing Simulation Laboratory.

The lab was made possible by a $250,000 gift from the Masternick family, which owns and operates Windsor House Inc. nursing homes and assisted-living centers.

The lab, dedicated Monday on the third floor of YSU’s Cushwa Hall, features computerized manikins with programmable heart rates and rhythms, respiration, blood pressure, coughing and respiratory distress.

The largest and most advanced of the manikins is Windsor — the Sim Man.

“He breathes. He cries. He sweats. He has bowel sounds,” said Nancy Wagner, nursing department chairwoman.

“This is an amazing tool for helping our students to develop critical-thinking skills,” Wagner added.

Windsor makes eye movements, and he utters distress calls in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Student interactions with Windsor are audio and video-recorded for later evaluation, said Lori Fusco, clinical instructor and simulation coordinator.

Windsor can be programmed to suffer from congestive heart failure, asthma or a heart attack.

“It’s advanced. It’s fun. It’s creative,” Fusco said of simulation.

Students “can make mistakes without consequences” in the simulation lab, she added.

“We are so grateful to the Masternicks for making this beautiful, high-tech lab available to the young men and women who are working to become compassionate, well-trained health-care professionals,” said Jim Tressel, university president.

YSU has more than 400 graduate and undergraduate nursing students.