Hope Ballentine demonstrated how to deliver a baby as the University of Arkansas’ newest mannequin yelled in pain while it simulated childbirth Thursday.
“It hurts,” the mannequin said as its breathing became more labored. “The baby is coming.”
The Fayetteville campus is one of three academic institutions to have a CAE Fidelis Lucina Maternal Fetal Simulator, according to university officials. They said nearly 100 nursing students will begin learning with the mannequin this month.
The UA Eleanor Mann School of Nursing enrolls about 400 students annually. Degrees offered include a bachelor of science in nursing, online registered nurse to bachelor of science in nursing, online master of science in nursing and doctor of nursing practice.
Ballentine, university clinical instructor of nursing, said a previous mannequin owned by the university was able to have babies, but it wasn’t realistic. She said it didn’t offer different scenarios that can occur during childbirth.
The new mannequin can be programmed to have any birthing complications that could occur in a real setting, Ballentine said. She said they could include breech births and umbilical cord complications. The mannequin can also simulate health issues such as seizures during birth or postpartum hemorrhaging.
Vital signs on the mannequin also are realistic, Ballentine said. Pulses can be located by feeling the mannequin’s wrists. The infant’s heartbeat can be heard while still in the mannequin’s womb.
Pegge Bell, director of the university’s Eleanor Mann School, said the mannequin will help students prepare for the workforce.
“It really gives students the opportunity to learn without making mistakes that hurt anyone,” Bell said. “Getting the kinks out here is better than doing it in real life.”
Faculty members are able to run the simulation and change outcomes based on how students perform, Bell said.
“If the student makes a mistake, that will play out,” Bell said.
Students also will receive videos of their lessons on the mannequin, Bell said. They will be able to watch their videos over and over as a learning tool.
Devin Hill, a senior in the nursing program, said she plans to be a midwife. She said it has been “awesome” to watch staff members demonstrate with the mannequin.
“It is very realistic,” Hill said. “We are lucky to have this opportunity.”
Lindsey Sabatini, university simulation lab coordinator, said the institution spent about $100,000 for the mannequin and installation.
Overall the university has five patient rooms in the simulation lab, Sabatini said. She said each of the rooms is set up with simulation mannequins, which include three adults, one child and one infant.
The birthing mannequin is produced by CAE Healthcare. Its website states that the simulator has been through “extensive reliability” testing. It estimates that the mannequin can simulate more than 120,000 deliveries in its lifetime without failure.