Issue link: http://howardcc.uberflip.com/i/740238
Fall 2016 | Pathways 7 Dr. Shatzer says that students often learn the most when they participate in simulation exercises where things go wrong. They are forced to reevaluate the situation, reprioritize, and in some cases, change the course of action in terms of their patient's care. This, he says, is what best represents the real world of health care. "It's important to practice the unexpected. Simulation makes that possible, without consequences or risk of harming a person," he said. "Anything can happen out there." Karen Davis, Ph.D., RN, NEA-BC can attest to that statement. As vice president of nursing and chief nursing officer at Howard County General Hospital, she speaks from experience in saying that "no two days are ever the same in a hospital." She stresses the importance of hiring clinical providers with experience and confidence, which then translates into patient trust. "We are here to take care of human beings. We need to do it correctly the first time, every time," said Davis. "When students have had a chance to practice, they come in ready to work with higher levels of confidence. Patients can feel that confidence, which leads them to trust us, and trust is a key component to good health care." For paramedic student Jarad Modaber-Alvarado, who will graduate this December, the simulations have taught him how to respond to and treat emergency cardiac issues, respiratory distress, medication overdoses, and more. Many of these scenarios have been practiced in HCC's full-size, state- of-the-art ambulance simulator, complete with lights, sirens, and emergency response equipment. "It's very real," said Modaber- Alvarado. "A dispatch call comes in, same as it would happen in the real world, and we have to figure out how to respond. Sometimes all we know is that the person we need to help is sick and we have to act as the situation unfolds. We are challenged to think critically about the process, how to prioritize our time and how to work efficiently as a team. As a student, you feel like you are being tossed into the deep end of the water, but " It's very real... A dispatch call comes in, same as it would happen in the real world, and we have to figure out how to respond. " Jarad Modaber-Alvarado u