Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota is dedicated to enhancing the education and skills of its staff through a new nursing simulation lab. St. Mary’s nursing simulation lab opened in 2022, featuring four medical mannequins that accurately mimic human functions such as talking, breathing, and blinking. The lab aims to improve nurses’ skills and confidence by providing a realistic learning environment for various medical scenarios.
Nursing Education Coordinator Paul Branstad stated that the mannequins can be programmed to simulate rare diseases or complex medical conditions, allowing nurses to practice and learn from any situation. Since its establishment, over 13,000 nurses have utilized the simulation lab to learn and grow with the ability to restart simulations when mistakes are made.
Intensive Care Unit Nurse Zachary Bernatz shared how the simulation lab has improved his ability to care for patients in critical situations by practicing on the mannequins. By working with the mannequins, Bernatz felt more confident in handling real-life emergency scenarios leading to better patient outcomes. The simulation lab plays a crucial role in keeping nurses’ skills sharp and preparing them for challenging situations in clinical practice.
Michelle Coy, Nursing Education Specialist highlighted a successful case where nurses who had practiced a cardiac emergency scenario in the simulation lab were able to save a patient’s life the next day in real life demonstrating how simulation training improves patient care outcomes and enhances nurses’ clinical skills.
The simulation lab at Mayo Clinic provides real-time feedback to nurses helping them develop critical thinking and decision-making skills that are valuable in their careers. The experiences gained from this facility have a lasting impact on nurses enabling them to deliver high-quality care to patients while continuing prioritize staff education and training at Mayo Clinic fostering excellence in patient care.
