Pictures of Health
Practice Makes Perfect
What do carving decay from a tooth, counseling the owner of a sick cat, starting an IV, and performing endoscopic surgery have in common? All are skills health professional students can practice at the University of Minnesota using simulation-based educational experiences.
From actors who pose as patients, to computer-operated manikins, to virtual reality software, simulations offer students valuable opportunities to hone the manual dexterity, critical thinking, problem solving, and other capabilities they'll need in their future careers.
"Simulations, when well executed, can really accelerate the learning curve on knowledge and skills," says Jane Miller, director of the Academic Health Center's Interprofessional Education and Resource Center (IERC), which offers simulation opportunities to students from a variety of health professional programs. With the help of simulations, Miller says, students can practice procedures and techniques over and over until they perfect them, getting skill-building feedback each time. They also can make—and learn from—mistakes before they find themselves in literal life-or-death situations. The ultimate goal: better patient care.
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