SimMan helps students learn basic patient care
The role of the certified nursing student in the medical field is one of great importance to patients that are unable to properly care for themselves, and yet the CNA is often overlooked by some that are looking for a rewarding job assisting those in need.
A CNA, certified nursing assistant, is the vital link between the registered nurse and the patient. In a hospital or nursing care facility one can find the CNA directly caring to patients in one of two ways.
Physically, a patient with special needs may need assistance with task such as eating meals, dressing, and bathing.
Also, many times a patient may feel unimportant and suffer from depression, a CNA is usually the one that is closest to a patient and can offer emotional support.
A CNA position is a great position for those that are looking for a job that will offer benefits and opportunities to pursue an education or advance in the medical field.
An engineering student at MCC, Lucy Ward, has been working as a CNA for the past eight years. Lucy started her CNA classes while she was still in high school.
She said the most rewarding aspect is that she “enjoys helping people to the point they can care for themselves.”
Being a CNA has allowing Lucy to help others and provide a living for herself while she attends school.
Nurse assistant coordinator Betty Earp helps students situate themselves into the program.
Earp emphasized that the CNA program promotes a comfortable working atmosphere. “We try to provide the best working environment for our students,” said Earp.The MCC program excels where other valley programs don’t. Each student will get, in addition to general training in class, 45 hours at an extended care facility and 45 hours of hospital training that other programs in the valley don’t offer.
“We work with the Banner Systems and students are recruited right out of school,”
Earp said. In total, the program is 120 clock hours with 30 as lecture and 90 as clinical.One of the greatest training features at the MCC nursing department is the $35,000 SimMan, a revolutionary training mannequin.
SimMan can be programmed by a laptop to simulate any medical situation that a student may face in a hospital setting.
“We create scenarios that encourage critical thinking,” said Earp.
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44, Issue 9. Today is
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CNA student Melanie LaSueur practices adjusting a nasogastric tube on a SimMan dummy. CNA students learn basic nursing skills such as helping patients with feel comfortable and practice in classrooms before going into on-site clinicals in the Valley.