Hennepin Technical College First in Country to Use High-Tech Nursing Device
Nursing students at Hennepin Technical College have some new high-tech tools to test their skills. On Wednesday, students unboxed the latest training gadgets.
The Laerdal Modular Skills Trainer has the ability to train students without risking hurting real people.
“You wouldn’t want someone practicing things that they have never done before on you, right?” said Laerdal Medical Representative Dan Baumgardner.
And that’s a relief for student Isaac Ngatua.
“There are no feelings. Nobody is going to say you’re hurting me, and this and that,” Ngatua said.
Hennepin Technical College nursing students use innovative device to test skills.
Students previously used a larger mock patient for training. The new devices are smaller, portable and can do 15 different nursing skills.
Nursing students can practice stoma care, wound care, drawing blood and more. The technology allows students to practice repeatedly at their own pace until they feel comfortable.
“I like to practice. I think it would be easy with a patient, too,” said student Madeline Apolloni.
“This is really good because you don’t have to be frightened. Even if you made a mistake, you can still come back and redo it until you perfected it,” said Ngatua.
When paired with a smartphone, the devices provide digital assessments. Students can also videotape their work and send it to instructors for evaluation.
“The students are going to videotape themselves, watch themselves and look where they made their own mistakes,” explained Chris Kleckner, Hennepin Technical College’s director of nursing. “It’s a real time saver too. We could be spending more time instructing than evaluating.”
Each student has their own training device to use on campus or at home. Students say it’s a confidence builder.
“I’ll keep trying until I can get it right, and that builds my confidence so when I’m doing a real human being, I know exactly what I’m doing,” said Ngatua.
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