UNF prepares nursing students for the real world

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Next week UNF Nursing school students will be graduating.

Today UNF’s simulation center for Brooks College of Health wanted to make sure the nursing students experienced a simulated life-and-death scenario.

“They’ll be someone trapped under a car, there might be someone having a baby in the parking lot, there’s going to be someone with an amputated leg, someone with wounds and shrapnel in their face,” says Dove.

“In an hour of clinical time you might see 1 or 2 patients whereas in an hour here in the simulation center, you might see 6 so it’s significantly more efficient,” says Dove.

For the first time Wednesday UNF hosted a medical training featuring mannequins capable of simulating human responses to trauma – it was for the school’s soon-to-be graduating nursing students.

“Most of the nurses that we are training are going to go work in a hospital or go work in a clinic situation and they’re going to have 3,4,5 patients a day,” says Dove.

This emergency response training aims to help nursing students prepare for mass casualty incidents. It’s being led by UNF School of Nursing faculty, Dr. Sandra Shapiro and Mrs. Sarah Knowles assisted by Conrad Dove, manager of the simulation center for Brooks College of Health at UNF. He says the mannequins are 130 pounds of dead weight and make the entire experience realistic.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

UNF School of Nursing faculty, Dr. Sandra Shapiro and Mrs. Sarah Knowles assisted by Conrad Dove, manager of the simulation center for Brooks College of Health at UNF.

Not only do these mannequins look real, but they also feel real from the hair to the textured skin and even the teeth. These mannequins can also experience pain, scream and cry just like you and me.

To make this experience more realistic Dove brought in Mayo Clinic’s Operations Specialist Amy Allen – she has a background in theater focused on make-up applications. Amy has made fake skin that’s been burned or stabbed with shrapnel.

“This is going to put them in a situation to get that adrenaline flowing and allow them to suspend disbelief,” says Dove.

Dove says this simulation center will better prepare UNF nurses to be skilled Registered Nurses.

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.