New nursing labs result in better prepared nurses

    By Maggie Rhynes
    IV Leader Staff

    After securing funds from a Perkins grant, the Illinois Valley Community College nursing labs now more advanced and realistic than ever.
    The three new lab rooms, which went into use at the beginning for the fall semester, feature eight “hospital room” stations. An Open House is planned for Friday, May 5 from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to attend and view the new labs.
    Previously, there were only five beds in the nursing labs and the majority of the older equipment didn’t work. Dean of Health Professions Gloria Bouxsein joked, “It was time for the replacement of antique equipment.”
    The antiques were replaced with a variety of new equipment including IV pumps, feeding pumps and portable suction.
    A collection of new mannequins and fake body parts were also added to the labs. The new mannequins — there are three adults, one child and a baby — are capable of crying, making breath and cardiac sounds and vomiting, among other things.
    Assistant Director of Nursing Pam Mammano said of the mannequins, “They are great. They can be adapted so the students can perform a variety of physical assessments in a variety of scenarios. The mannequins can be adapted to be pregnant, have wounds, mastectomies and other ailments.”
    The labs have also taken on a more hospital like environment. Each station is made to resemble a real hospital room, with all tools attached to the headboard and a curtain than can be pulled around the patient’s bed. Even the cabinetry and sinks were replaced with those more suited to the health field.
    “I think the labs have facilitated learning and made the students more comfortable. It’s given them a realistic picture to improve their skills. That’s the biggest thing — because of this, we are putting out even better nurses,” Mammano said of the lab update.