The newly renovated Clinical Education Simulation Laboratory at the General Hospital Campus of St. Joseph Health, Humboldt County was unveiled to the St. Joseph Eureka Foundation board on March 20th.
Thanks to the benevolence of the Foundation boards at St. Joseph Hospital Eureka and Redwood Memorial Hospital and support from the executive leadership team, the simulation lab now provides a hands-on learning experience in a safe, realistic environment enabling caregivers to enhance their critical thinking skills, technical ability, and communication skills with patients, and through collaboration with peers.
Some of the opportunities in the lab include evaluation of vital signs, heart/lung sounds, cardiopulmonary monitoring, and assessment of the effects of medications through interaction with a high fidelity simulator. The simulation lab is equipped with monitoring devices and infusion delivery systems used by nurses in the SJE and RMH ministries. The simulation lab also provides an educational bridge from classroom learning to clinical patient care and is an invaluable resource to the Providence St. Joseph Nursing Institute Clinical Academy.
Simulations are conducted with a focus on nursing professionalism and realistic experiences and facilitated by Clinical Nurse Program Specialists. In the coming year, simulation resources will be expanded to include interdisciplinary opportunities and nursing student simulation lab experiences.
According to area director of clinical education, Victoria Looper, DNP, MSN-Ed, RN, having a simulation lab of this caliber in a rural hospital is rare.
“Having this state-of-the-art simulation lab in our Humboldt County ministries is such a ‘win-win’ for our caregivers, our patients, and our community,” said Looper. “We are truly demonstrating our values of stewardship and excellence.”