Practice Makes Perfect

Practice Makes Perfect

Story by Dakota Szakacs

Downtown in the Aaron Building is where a lot of Penn State Altoona’s nursing programs classes are and within these classrooms there are also a number of simulation labs. Liz Gatchell who is the simulation lab coordinator and assistant teaching professor discussed  how these labs work for her students. When asked if she feels it prepares them for dealing with live patients she said it helps them practice and be prepared for possible stressful situations they may be exposed to later on. She has them work in groups of three to four because healthcare is a team oriented profession and she believes that working together allows them to learn more and help each other out by bouncing information off one another.

Two second degree nursing students who have completed their undergrad degrees in other fields and are now pursuing their undergraduate degrees in nursing, Lauren Brightbill and Karen Weiss talked about their experiences with the lab and challenges they face. When asked if the labs help them feel prepared for dealing with real patients they said yes. However the mannequins used can’t necessarily talk so when asked how they prepare to talk to real patients, Brightbill says she rehearses out loud as well as practicing in her head, Weiss comes from a background of having to talk with people on a regular basis so she already feels very comfortable doing so. When also asked what their favorite part of the nursing labs was and both agreed that being in an immersive environment and getting to practice is great. Weiss added she also really enjoys the needle teaching labs as well. Like both women stated these labs are an immersive experience where students can practice on a variety of patient types and cases. It allows them to practice and make mistakes before treating real patients under the supervision of instructors who are there to help guide students and aid them if they are unsure of what to do.

However as a nursing student there is no shortage of challenges. Brightbill says she struggles with her time management and feels as though it’s hard to stay in the zone at times. While Weiss says the hardest part is study skills, being older she feels like she is not as quick as she used to be and snuggles to get her brain engaged at times. The women agree it’s hard to juggle adult life and school at the same time but both agree it’s important to understand it’s ok to take breaks and prioritize certain things in life such as family and health. Lastly, when asked if they had any advice for new nursing students Brightbill says, “discipline is your best tool as well as setting up a routine”. Weiss suggests, “Find creative ways to study and be willing to be open to things and not let yourself get stuck in a box”.