Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota is dedicated to enhancing the education and skills of its staff. In 2022, St. Mary’s nursing simulation lab was opened, featuring four medical mannequins that accurately mimic human functions such as talking, breathing, and blinking. The lab aims to enhance the skills and confidence of nurses by providing a realistic learning environment for various medical scenarios.
Nursing Education Specialist Michelle Coy shared how the simulation lab has played a crucial role in keeping nurses’ skills sharp and preparing them for challenging situations in clinical practice. Intensive Care Unit Nurse Zachary Bernatz felt more confident in handling real-life emergency scenarios after practicing on the mannequins in the simulation lab, leading to better patient outcomes.
The simulation lab at Mayo Clinic provides real-time feedback to nurses, helping them develop critical thinking and decision-making skills that are valuable in their careers. Nursing Education Coordinator Paul Branstad mentioned that the mannequins can be programmed to simulate rare diseases or complex medical conditions, allowing nurses to practice and learn from any situation. Over 13,000 nurses have utilized the simulation lab to learn and grow, with the ability to restart simulations to provide valuable learning opportunities when mistakes are made.
A successful case demonstrated how nurses who had practiced a cardiac emergency scenario in the simulation lab were able to save a patient’s life in a real-life situation the next day. This demonstrates the impact of simulation training on improving patient care outcomes and enhancing nurses’ clinical skills. Mayo Clinic continues to prioritize staff education and training to foster excellence in patient care.