- The Sim Mom manikin gives birth to a baby that fits in fetal position inside her abdomen; it’s incredibly similar to a live birth! She has a built-in hydraulic system which mimics contractions and allows her to bear down/push for delivery
- Students monitor the manikin’s contractions, vital signs, fetal heart sounds, and labor progression
- Both the Sim Mom and Sim NewB baby can be programmed for a variety of realistic birthing scenarios. Both execute vocal responses (moaning, crying, etc.) and respond to students’ nursing interventions
- Just like a realistic labor and delivery, Sim Mom experiences contractions and delivery is complete with fluid discharge and “cutting” the cord using plastic scissors
- Birth can vary from normal to having a variety of conditions:
- shoulder dystocia (shoulders fail to pass after the head)
- breech baby (positioned feet first)
- post-birth hemorrhage
- prolapsed cord – cord comes out first (a rare occurrence!)
- nuchal cord (umbilical cord is wrapped around baby’s neck)
- The only condition Sim Mom cannot realistically simulate is a cesarean section since it would involve cutting into our manikins! Rather, students simulate C-sections with minor adaptations
- Sim NewB baby has a pulse in their umbilical cord and can:
- turn blue and exhibit varying oxygen levels
- have a seizure.
- coo and cry
- Clinical simulation faculty observe and control conditions through the two-way mirror, work closely with students in the lab, and/or record simulation sessions to debrief in class
- Faculty play the role of a doctor or member of the healthcare team; student nurses practice making phone calls to obtain medication orders, consult with or update the doctor on clinical cases
