UT Arlington School of Nursing students now hold the life of a patient in their hands making life or death decisions that can mean the patient survives, or dies. Real lessons are learned in the Smart Hospital™ utilizing patient simulators programmed by faculty to react to the care given by the student. Simulation allows the nursing students to experience situations they may never encounter during their regular clinical experience in area hospitals.

Meet Laerdal® SimMan®. This computerized manikin can be programmed to interact with students using a variety of phrases. He can tell students how he's feeling . The manikin can mimic many body functions, such as normal  and abnormal    heart sounds. He responds as a patient would to student interventions, whether correct or not. The manikin can clinically deteriorate or even "die". Students can dramatically see the outcome of their care.

The simulated environment portrays the actual clinical setting, including students wearing uniforms. Students  practice patient communication and talk to the patient explaining procedures and asking appropriate questions. Scenarios (case studies) are created and programmed so that SimMan® can portray conditions students will encounter in acute care settings, especially high risk, high volume and problem prone conditions.

For more information on this educational advancement for the future, our Smart Hospital and Health System brochure details plans for the multiple uses of the Smart Hospital for now and for the future.